Sean Hughes, MA

Sean Hughes has over 30 years of professional documentary, photojournalism and design experience. He is currently a full-time Professor-Educator, specializing in photojournalism, multimedia and media design in the Department of Journalism at the University of Cincinnati, as well as a working documentary director, videographer, and photojournalist.

Prior to that, Hughes was the Art Director for both CityBeat newspaper, The Sondheim Review international magazine, and the national print and online publication Everything Sondheim. While at CityBeat he won over 20 local, state and national awards for photography, web and graphic design from Ohio and Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists, Cleveland Press Club, Association of Alternative Newspapers (AAN) and AWN, including two-time Ohio SPJ's Designer of the Year (2004 and 2006). 

His photojournalism and documentary work runs the gamut: from NCAA basketball finals to extensive documentary studies in Cuba and India; coverage of medical teams in Oaxaca, Mexico; an official photographer for the Bunbury Music Festival; and numerous magazine features. He also served as the director of photography for the first-ever U.S.-held World Choir Games in 2012. Hughes was also one of six photographers chosen state-wide to create a “re-photographic” survey of Ohio sites documented as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal in the 1930s, through the Farm Security Administration (FSA). The project was organized by the Ohio Humanities Council with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The photo survey was converted to a touring exhibit, with a featured exhibit as part of the FotoFocus Biennial in 2012: Images of the Great Depression: A Documentary Portrait of Ohio 1935-2010.

In 2016, he shot, edited and co-directed the documentary The Intimate Realities of Water, which won Best Documentary and Best Overall Film at the Los Angeles International Film Festival. It was also a finalist for Best Documentary at the Paris Arts and Music Awards. In the North Carolina Film Awards it was selected as the winner of its Board of Director's Award. At the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards it won Best Cultural Feature, Best First-Time Filmmakers, Best Writer, and Best Narration awards. At the United International Film Festival it took home first place for best documentary, and it was included in the Louisville International Festival of Film.

In his follow-up documentary, Thirsty and Drowning in America, Hughes revisited his role as videographer, editor and co-director with Adrian Parr. From 2020-2021, they earned official selection honors at the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival, the Montreal Independent Film Festival, the International Independent Film Festival Hollywood, the Amsterdam World International Film Festival, Docs Without Borders Film Festival, and the Lift-Off Global Network festivals in Melbourne and Berlin.

M.A.: Ball State University 1993 (Journalism)

B.A.: University of Cincinnati 1992 (Sociology)

My research/practice interests are primarily documentary film work, photojournalism and media design, with a focus on water issues, food insecurity solutions and expolarations of lost and dying arts.

2010 -2011 New Media Bureau Chief, Department of Journalism, University of Cincinnati, College of Arts & Sciences

2009 -2014 Assistant Professor-Educator, Department of Journalism. Focus on photojournalism and media design. Educator responsibilities include a 3/3/3 class load, with both introductory and advanced courses. Administrative responsibilities include serving as an advisor to journalism majors, assist with the development of future courses and programming for the journalism major, and coordinate the photojournalism track in the journalism major. Service responsibilities include participating in program activities and serving on committees. Other responsibilities include preparing proposals and recommendations for updated software and hardware needed for the lab, serve as resident expert for photojournalism and document imaging, multimedia storytelling, digital imaging and design., University of Cincinnati, College of Arts & Sciences

2009 -2011 Multimedia journalist (contributing), WCPO.com, Cincinnati, OH

2009 -2015 Photographer (one of eight chosen in the State of Ohio), Work for Ohio Humanities Council, using the FSA photographic record as a starting point for a statewide project to commemorate the 75th anniversary of New Deal activities in Ohio. The FSA photographs deserve a larger audience – and a more critical evaluation – and can be used as tools to explore and enunciate a richer portrait of Ohio during the years 1929-1941. This multi-year project includes: A rephotographic survey of the locations featured in the FSA photographs; Oral history collection; Physical and virtual exhibits; K-12 curriculum components and teacher institutes; A speakers bureau; Publications; and Requests for proposals for other public programs on the topic., Ohio Humanities Council, Columbus, OH

2009 -2012 Multimedia journalist (staff), Cincinnati CityBeat Alternative News Weekly, Cincinnati, OH

2005 -2016 Art Director, The Sondheim Review, Chicago

2004 -2009 Photo Editor, CityBeat,

1995 -2009 Art Director, CityBeat,

1994 -To Present Adjunct Instructor of Design, Information Technologies, Cincinnati State, Cincinnati

1994 -1995 Editor, Ohio Valley ASMP News, Cincinnati

1993 -1996 Graphic Designer and Photographer, Bearcat Sports Digest, Cincinnati

2012 -2012 Director of Photography, Coordinated over 50 photographers to document the 2012 World Choir Games for online and print publications around the world and for a coffee table-style book.,

2012 -2012 Media Advisor, The News Record, University of Cincinnati,

2016 -2018 Art Director, Everything Sondheim, Cincinnati

2014 -2019 Associate Professor-Educator, Department of Journalism, University of Cincinnati, College of Arts & Sciences

2019 -To Present Professor-Educator, Department of Journalism, University of Cincinnati, College of Arts & Sciences

2019 -2024 Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Journalism, University of Cincinnati, College of Arts & Sciences

2025 -To Present Internship Director, Department of Journalism, University of Cincinnati, College of Arts & Sciences

2026 -To Present Interim Department Head, Department of Journalism, University of Cincinnati, College of Arts & Sciences

Grant: #R40527 Investigators:Bastos, Flavia Maria Cunha; Blevins, Jeffrey; Hughes, Sean; Iversen, Kristen; Lind, Amy; Torner, Evan 10-01-2019 -03-31-2020 UC's Urban Futures Digital Futures Anchor Development Program Story-telling & Social Justice Role:Collaborator $10,000.00 Active Level:Internal UC

Invited Presentations

Sean Hughes, David Sorcher (11-18-2010. ) Documentary Photography in the Digital Age .Antonelli College, Cincinnati, OH. Other Institution. . Level:Local

Photopresse

(04-22-2010. ) Authors, Editors and Composers .Russell C. Myers Alumni Center. Level:University

Sean Hughes, Nicole Scholton (03-17-2009. ) Visual Media and Society .Clark Montessori, Level:Local

Photopresse

Sean Hughes, Adam Pearson (05-03-2010. ) A Journey to India: Everyday Life and Traditions .Bridgetown Middle School, Level:Local

A Journey to India: Everyday Life and Traditions

Sean Hughes, Mary Beth Platen (04-07-2010. ) A Journey to India: Everyday Life and Traditions .Fairview-Clifton German Bilingual School, Level:Local

A Journey to India: Everyday Life and Traditions

Sean Hughes, Elissa Sonnenberg, Jenny Wohlfarth (05-07-2010. ) Journalism Advisory Board: Photojournalism Outreach .222 A&S, College of Arts & Sciences.

Journalism Advisory Board: Photojournalism Outreach

Sean Hughes (01-25-2010. ) Glimpses Of Unfamiliar India (18 images) .Meijer Artway & The Gallery, Indiana University, Richmond IN Campus. Other Institution. . Level:Regional

Featured Presenter (04-21-2011. ) Authors, Editors and Composers .Russell C. Myers Alumni Center. Level:University

(04-17-2012. ) Authors, Editors and Composers .Russell C. Myers Alumni Center. Level:University

(04-09-2013. ) Authors, Editors and Composers .Russell C. Myers Alumni Center, Level:University

(06-27-2012. ) Documentary Photojournalism - Lecture .Proctor & Gamble, West Chester, Ohio. Level:Local

(02-04-2013. ) PCGC - Documentary Photojournalism Lecture .Wyoming, OH, Level:Local

(11-06-2012. ) FSA Photo Exhibit - Gallery Tour .Sycamore Gallery, Cincinnati, OH. Level:National

Sean Hughes, Nicole Scholton (09-24-2012. ) The Art and Deception of Photography .Clark Montessori, Cincinnati, OH. Level:Local

(10-24-2012. ) FotoFocus Lecture Series .

Sean Hughes, Tim Kraus (2012. ) Hughes STEM Program - Photography Intersession .Hughes High School, Cincinnati, OH. Level:Local

Sean Hughes (11-02-2013. ) Concerned Exhibit - panel discussion .

Sean Hughes and Adrian Parr (02-2020. ) Communitas Lecture Series .Utah State University, Logan, Utah. Other Institution. . Level:University

1995 -2010 Ohio and Cincinnati SPJ, Cleveland Press Club, Association of Alternative News-weeklies Awards, 1995-2009 — Winner of over 20 local, state and national awards for photography, web and graphic design from Ohio and Cincinnati SPJ, Press Club, AAN and AWN Winner of over 20 local, state and national awards for photography, web and graphic design from Ohio and Cincinnati SPJ, Press Club, AAN and AWN

2006 Ohio SPJ's Designer of the Year — 2006

2004 Ohio SPJ's Designer of the Year — 2004

2009 SPJ Cincinnati Awards SPJ Cincinnati Award for Page 1 layout (Art Direction and design)
; SPJ Cincinnati Award for Inside page design (Art Direction and design)
; SPJ Cincinnati Award for cover illustration of Obama crossing the Delaware (Art Direction)
; SPJ Cincinnati Award for Election Day photography
; SPJ Cincinnati Award for Annual Manual package (Art Direction, photography and design) Status:Recipient Level:Local Type:Recognition

2016 The Intimate Realities of Water, documentary video Best Documentary, Finalist Pama Film Festival Status:Recipient Level:National Type:Recognition

Journalism Program (Photojournalism and Design Track Coordinator ) Program Coordinator Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 01-2009 -To Present

Journalism Program (Journalism Semester Conversion ) Review Board/Panel Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 08-2009 -08-2012

Journalism Program (Journalism Awards faculty nominations for student grants and scholarships ) Member Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 01-2009 -To Present

Journalism Program (Arts and Culture in Media ) Review Board/Panel Type:Service to Professional Development Programs Level:University 05-16-2009 -05-17-2009

Journalism Program (Journalism Hall of Fame, Luncheon and Reception ) Member Type:Departmental Service Level:University 05-2009 -05-2009

(A&S Curriculum Committee ) Committee Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 01-2011 -To Present

(Undergraduate Studies Committee ) Committee Member Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 2012 -2024

(A&S Faculty Senate ) Committee Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 02-2012 -To Present

Ohio Articulation and Transfer Network (Journalism Transfer Assurance Guide (TAG) Faculty Review Panel ) Review Board/Panel Type:University/College Service Level:State 2013 -To Present

College of Arts & Sciences (A&S Diversity Committee ) Department Liaison Type:University/College Service Level:College 2013

A&S Undergraduate Director's Council (College Curriculum Committee ) Committee Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2022 -2024

2010 -To Present: Social Documentary Network Member

2023 -To Present: Heterodox Academy Member

2010 -To Present: National Press Photographers Association Member

2010 Blackboard Pedagogy Workshop CET&L Raymond Walters College Type:Workshop

2013 CET&L Study Abroad Course Design Institute CET&L Type:Workshop

2015 Experiential Learning Institute CET&L Type:Workshop

2018 Online Journalism Education MOOC Knight Center for Journalism Online - University of Texas at Austin Type:Online Class

2019 Equal Opportunity At UC: Anti-Harassment/Non-Discrimination Seminar #171717 University of Cincinnati Type:Seminar

2019 The World Studies Here: Best Practices For Teaching And Learning With International Students CET&L Workshop #11172, CET&L Type:Workshop

2019 Using Critical Incidents To Foster Inclusion At UC Diversity & Inclusion #9426, University of Cincinnati Type:Workshop

2019 Visual Journalism: Looking at the other in the age of selfie Online Journalism Education - “Visual Journalism: Looking at the other in the age of selfie,” 2019, Certificate of Completion for month-long course, Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, Knight Center for Journalism Online - University of Texas at Austin Type:Online Class

2023 HLC Academic Program Assessment for Program Directors and Unit Heads CET&L Type:Workshop

2024 Introduction to Course Design (Updated course for Canvas), CET&L Type:Workshop

2025 Master Class in Teaching Series, Engaging Students Through Peer Instruction: Strategies for Active Learning CET&L Type:Workshop

Academic - Department of Journalism
2800 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati  Ohio, 45221
hughess3@ucmail.uc.edu