Full-Time Faculty
Brian P. McDermott
Visual Journalism
Senior Lecturer
M.A., University of Montana
S427 Integrative Learning Center | 413-545-9812
Biography
Brian McDermott joined the faculty at UMass full-time in September 2009. He began his career as a photojournalist, working at a newspaper in Pennsylvania. From there, he headed west to Missoula, Montana, where he went to graduate school and took a new media path. He published photography, multimedia and writing in outlets like the New York Times, the New York Daily News, the Associated Press, Quartz, Bon Appétit and many others.
His writing about journalism has appeared in Journalism Practice, Online Journalism Review and News Photographer. He has built websites commercially, produced video pieces, and chaired the National Press Photographers Association's Student Quarterly Clip Contest.
He was awarded the 2014 SBS College Outstanding Teaching Award, and served as Department Chair from September 2017 to May 2023.
New & Selected Publications
Tara M. Mortensen, Brian P. McDermott, Khadija Ejaz & Daniel D. Haun (2019) Closing the Gap Between Photojournalist Research and Photojournalism Practice: Exploring the Motivations of the Subjects of Sensitive Photo Essays, Journalism Practice, 13:5, 576-591, DOI: 10.1080/17512786.2018.1535907 . (Nominated for the journal's top paper of 2019 award)