William Snyder
William Snyder
William Snyder is a four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and editor, has been The Who's official photographer for many years, and is a professor of photojournalism at his alma mater, Rochester Institute of Technology.
After graduating from RIT with Highest Honors in 1981, Snyder joined The Miami News and two years later moved to the photography staff of The Dallas Morning News. During his 15 years as a staff photographer, Snyder won three Pulitzers Prizes.
In 1998, Snyder changed roles and became a picture editor/manager. He served as the night photo editor, assignments editor, metro/suburban photo editor, and, as assistant director of photography, built and managed an eight-person photo staff in The Dallas Morning News' aggressive Collin County bureau.
In early 2005 he was named The Morning News' director of photography and guided the photography staff to the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News for its coverage of Hurricane Katrina. He also produced "Eyes of The Storm," a 256-page book featuring The Dallas Morning News photo staff's images from hurricanes Katrina and Rita that sold over 14,000 copies. Profits from those sales were donated to various hurricane relief agencies and the Pulitzer Center for Journalists. In September of 2006, Snyder took a buyout from The Morning News after 23 years.
Snyder moved to RIT in 2008. Since arriving, Snyder has been chosen as an RIT Outstanding Alumni, selected for the The Isaiah Thomas Award in Publishing, and won the Frank J. Romano Endowed Prize for Publishing Entrepreneurship. He also serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and is an advisor to The Reporter magazine.
Biography text taken from Snyder's portfolio website.
1989 Winner
Explanatory Journalism
"For a special report on a 1986 airplane crash, the follow-up investigation and the implications on air safety." - Pulitzer Board
Honored with fellow Dallas Morning News staff writer David Hanners and graphic artist Karen Blessen.
Taking a breather amid the debris during the first day of the field investigation, the safety board’s Warren Wandel, left, and Jay Pierce of the FAA ponder a detail of the crash.
Meet the press: Wandel, center, takes a break from the first day of the field investigation to give a news briefing to reporters who have gathered at the crash site near Redwater, Texas.
Heavy traffic: Seated before glowing radar scopes, controllers at the Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center, near D/FW Airport, guide heavy flow of air traffic through North Texas skies. Controllers at the facility watched on the scopes as 50 Sierra Kilo entered the storm and then disappeared from their radar.
Even the smallest piece can hold clues to the puzzle. Wandel uses a magnifying glass to examine the damage to the filament inside a tiny lightbulb.
Order out of chaos: As the twisted remains of 50 Sierra Kilo are laid out on the hanger floor at Air Salvage of Dallas, Warren Wandel, left, and two others examine the tall section.
