by ALYSSA BOYER
Intern Lifestyles Reporter

Few people are able to say they have won the Pulitzer Prize, especially by the age of 30.  Photojournalist Preston M. Gannaway is a woman who has done just that.

Earlier this year, Gannaway won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for her documentary “Remember Me.”

Her documentary highlights the life of a mother who battled a rare form of cancer until it eventually took her life February 2007.

Wednesday, Gannaway will make a trip to Appalachian State University to speak about photojournalism in the 21st century.

Her presentation will be held in Katherine Harper Hall room 017 at 7:30 p.m.

Gannaway said she became interested in photojournalism when she realized she could use her art background and take pictures to earn a living. 

She has always been interested in the stories people have to tell, and loves that her work gives her the opportunity to bring such stories to life.

“I like it when people can react emotionally to the pictures that I take or the stories that I tell,” she said.

Gannaway said today, however, photojournalism is about more than telling stories. She has seen many changes in the field since she first began working.

“All of the different aspects of photojournalism are converging,” she said. 

To students looking to pursue photojournalism, she urges obtaining a greater knowledge of audio and video skills.

Gannaway said her reaction to winning the Pulitzer Prize was disbelief. Others, however, were not so surprised.

“Ever since she was 19 her work has really been outstanding,” her former professor John Scarlata said.

Scarlata teaches technical photography at Appalachian and has a master’s degree in fine arts.

Scarlata had Gannaway as a student when he taught at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Va.
“I think she’s an outstanding role model,” Scarlata said. “As a young person she’s already gotten the highest award you can receive in photojournalism.”

Scarlata encourages students to go to her presentation so they can be exposed to great photojournalism they might not otherwise get to see.

In addition to her presentation Wednesday, Gannaway has visited Appalachian to look at student portfolios and to speak to classes.

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