Loyola University Chicago

Spotlight Update

Goheen’s Stories Emerge from his Images
By Mary Pat Haley, BVM, Professor Emerita

November, 2009--Travel with award winning photojournalist John C. P. Goheen from Mexico to California through the lens of his recent film, “El Viaje Norte” (“The Journey North”), as part of his program “Putting a Face on Immigration,” the third of the Faculty Speaker Series of the School of Communication on Tuesday Nov. 17 in Kasbeer Hall at 6:30pm on the Water Tower Campus.

 

A teacher of video journalism at the School of Communication, Goheen took his cast and crew from Colorado, through the American southwest and Mexico to Tijuana and the mountains separating Mexico and California. Crossing the border in the middle of the night, he documented the journey of real people, willing to risk the danger of travelling in the most severe circumstances in the hope of finding a better life.

 

This is the kind of story Goheen is committed to tell, a story that is justice-oriented.  As he was describing the stories he like to tell, he mused how “ironic it is that I landed here [Loyola], where there is a commitment to working for justice and peace.”

 

He describes his style as “non-narrative story telling,” a story built without script which emerges from the images.  He generally works alone which enables him to work freely.

 

Goheen notes that his photo assignments “have taken place throughout the United States and in more than 80 countries covering international news events on every continent but Antarctica.”   He has covered all the national disasters of recent years, including floods, hurricanes, fires, volcano eruptions and tsunamis.

(He said that he would have interrupted his current work to cover the recent “Balloon Boy” incident if he hadn’t been committed to his students.)

 

One of Goheen’s goals has always been to teach and he is delighted that Loyola recognized his experiences

and expertise as a photographer.  He said that the students are enthusiastic about their work and so far are doing excellent work. His schedule allows him to continue his free lance assignments.

 

Since 1993, Goheen has been under contract to such news organizations as the major national news networks, the Public Broadcasting Service, 60 Minutes, Corbis Documentaries, National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, the major sports news organizations, and Al Jazeera English.

 

His work has earned him 15 Emmys for his work and over 300 awards for regional and national television covering best news, sports, feature photography and editing.  Of special note is the Television News Photographer of the Year award, the most prestigious of all his awards, which he earned in three consecutive years. 

 

Goheen has submitted several of his works which can be categorized as a feature documentary into film festivals.  One, in particular, “Lady Warriors” Goheen considers one of his best endeavors.  The film tells the story of Tuba City, Ariz., high school cross-country team’s training for their fourth consecutive state championship. Those who might want to view "Lady Warriors" may contact Goheen directly.

 

“The film proved to be not only a film about running, but also a unique look into Native culture,” he said in an interview. “It was one of the best projects I have been involved with during my 30-year career.” 

 

The film was most successful on the festival circuit, winning several “best-of-show awards” including the People’s Choice Award at the Denver International Film Festival.

 

Goheen looks for opportunities to reach out to others in his work.  Some of these he develops; others seem to fall in his lap.   Recently he heard the story of a young news reporter, Julie Moravchik, who worked at a small station in northern Wisconsin. She refused a directive from the station manager to write news stories that feature the station’s advertisers on ethical grounds.  She was fired and there was no room for negotiation.  The rest of the news staff also resigned in a gesture of support.

 

When Goheen heard of the situation, he called Julie with an offer of support.  For a place to sleep and some food, he volunteered to come up to Duluth where she was now employed, and work gratis with her and the staff on their photographic and reporting skills for a day-long mini-workshop.  This was his way of giving service and saying to Julie and her co-workers, some of whom had followed here to Duluth, that she had made the right decision.

 

Does he have any long-term goals?  He does:  to produce a feature-length documentary that will make it to the big screen.