Amateur Photographer to Receive $10,000 for Documentary Project

COLUMBIA, MO--(Marketwire - April 29, 2010) - For some it might be a passion, for others a hobby and to a few, maybe a dream not yet accomplished. Now, with the assistance of a new project from Pictures of the Year International (POYi), a program of the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI), amateur and semi-professional photographers will have the opportunity to do work of global significance.

POYi, the oldest photojournalism program in the world, has announced the "POYi Emerging Vision Incentive." The incentive will fund and showcase documentary work on social issues or political trends by aspiring documentary photographers. The Emerging Vision Incentive recipient will receive up to $10,000 to assist in developing a photo story that reflects daily life, social issues, cultural trends or news events.

"We are excited to be able to provide the environment and inspiration for emerging photographers to do work of worldwide importance," said Rick Shaw, director of POYi. "We hope this program will help educate and motivate the next generation of social-conscious photojournalists and allow them to explore and expand avenues of publication that are currently unavailable to them."

In addition to financial assistance, the recipient will have the opportunity to have his or her proposal displayed at RJI and The Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles during their exhibit of winning images from the 67th Annual POYi Competition which opens in June 2010. The Emerging Vision Incentive recipient will also receive a full day of career-development during the annual POYi Education Seminar and Awards Program.

The POYi Emerging Vision Incentive program is made possible through financial support from the Reynolds Journalism Institute and the Annenberg Foundation. For more information about the program or to enter, visit: www.poyi.org.

About the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute
The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute engages media professionals, scholars and citizens in programs aimed at improving the practice and understanding of journalism. Part of the Missouri School of Journalism, RJI collaborates with news and technology companies, professional associations, foundations and individuals to generate and test innovative models and technologies for journalism and advertising. Six Donald W. Reynolds Fellows spend an academic year at RJI, working with Missouri faculty and students and RJI staff to develop new ways to gather, process and deliver news, information and advertising. RJI was launched in 2004 with an initial $31 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. In 2009, the Foundation awarded the Institute an additional $15 million for operating support.

About The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, it has committed more than $100 million to its National Journalism Initiative in the United States.