Jenn Poggi

Associate Professor

School of Photographic Arts and Sciences

College of Art and Design

Undergraduate Program Director, Photojournalism

jappph@rit.edu

Jenn Poggi

Associate Professor

School of Photographic Arts and Sciences

College of Art and Design

Undergraduate Program Director, Photojournalism

Education

BS, Syracuse University; MA, Ohio University

jappph@rit.edu

Areas of Expertise

Photojournalism

Photography

Currently Teaching

IDEA-301

Foundations of Project Development

3 Credits

This course is designed to help students develop and refine project ideas and write a successful project proposal. Students will develop ideation techniques and research skills necessary to create a written proposal that describes, in detail, their intention and process. Students will learn how to develop the infrastructure necessary to successfully see their idea through to completion.

PHAR-203

Elements of Photojournalism

3 Credits

This course will serve as an introduction to visual story telling as it relates to professional photojournalism. It will provide relevant practice in basic technical, compositional, and interpersonal skills necessary in all aspects of modern photography. Students will be exposed to photojournalism - documentary, editorial, narrative, and editing - as well as explorations of current career possibilities. Lectures, critiques, demonstrations, and assignments will provide participants the opportunity to explore the still, audio, and multimedia strategies used for storytelling. In this course students are expected to meet real-world project deadlines and participate in class discussions and critiques.

PHAR-599

Photography Independent Study

1 - 3 Credits

Photography Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, will propose a course of study. Photography Independent Study students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll.

PHPJ-306

Picture Editing I

3 Credits

This course focuses on image selection, usage and design. Using images from a variety of sources, we discuss picture selection relative to context and desired impact in print and online. Effective use of images for a variety of story applications are discussed. Design techniques that maximize impact and storytelling are investigated, including scaling, proportion, sequencing, visual variety and sizing. Students will design a number of assignments from single pages to multi-page essays of varying length. Students will design a number of single pages to multi-page essays for various publishing and storytelling platforms that include print, online, and mobile delivery.

PHPJ-315

Non-Fiction Multimedia

3 Credits

This course will teach students how to tell stories in the digital world. Students will learn the skills necessary to gather and edit audio and how to combine audio, images, and text for compelling online storytelling. In addition to basic technical skills, the course will explore contemporary concepts for effective multimedia storytelling.

PHPJ-350

PJ Topics:

3 Credits

Photography (and photographic education) is in a perpetual state of flux due to constant changes in practices and technology. Topics in photojournalism will provide students with the opportunity to explore this shifting terrain of photography and imaging using contemporary problems. The content taught in this course will change frequently and the course may be repeated for credit, however each particular topic may have limits on repeatability.

PHPJ-352

Mini-Workshop Topics

1 Credits

This course will focus on implementing areas of special interest including new, advanced, and emerging visual communication course content. Potential topics may include areas in visual communications, video, visual storytelling, and documentary storytelling. Students may take more than one Mini-Workshop with different topics.

PHPJ-401

Photojournalism Capstone 1

3 Credits

This is the first of a two-course capstone sequence for students in photojournalism. Students will create an independent senior capstone project proposal that also demands the student research. Students will have the support and guidance of a faculty member. The students will research and plan for the production of a visual media presentation, a book/hardcopy portfolio or a collaborative editing portfolio and a written statement and conclusion. Course will include weekly group presentations on various topics to include time management, research, planning, photographic and photojournalistic subjects.

SOIS-510

Multidisciplinary Life

3 Credits

A capstone class for students in the applied arts and sciences bachelor of science degree program. Course provides students an opportunity to reflect upon and enhance the many aspects of their individualized educational programs and focus on future goals.

In the News

April 22, 2025

Photojournalism students earn bylines in the Associated Press

Thanks to alumni connections, seven photojournalism students can add a publication on AP’s news wire to their resume before they graduate.
March 3, 2025

RIT storytellers capture the heart and hustle of Special Olympics athletes

Students from various majors across RIT made a website providing wall-to-wall coverage of the 2025 Special Olympics New York Winter Games. This was the fourth year RIT partnered with Special Olympics to document the events.
January 17, 2025

Dialogue on Disability: Local photojournalists and Special Olympians take sports journalism beyond the stats

WXXI's Connections with Evan Dawson speaks with Josh Meltzer and Jenn Poggi, associate professors, and Travis LaCoss, fourth-year student in the photojournalism program, about working with Special Olympics athletes to tell their stories in a deeper way.

More News

Featured Work

Modern Family / PHPJ311

Kristen McNicholas

Photography by Joanna Graham, Jackie Molloy, Nina Peskanov and Lauren Russell Editing by Kristen McNicholas Modern Family A collaborative picture editing project in which three editors, Paige...

Redefining Family / PHPJ315

Niki Walker

Photography and editing by Niki Walker Redefining Family Blended and often unmarried, or "nuclear," families are becoming increasingly common in the United States. Paul Lorkovich and Jennifer...

The Hausers / PHPJ355

Colleen Cambier & Evan Ortiz

Project by Colleen Cambier and Evan Ortiz The Hausers A collaborative video shooting and editing project.