Kristen Olson

COM alumna Kristen Olson
named Photographer of the Year

Community Newpaper Holdings, Inc. (CNHI), recently named College of Communication alumna Kristen Olson as its Photographer of the Year for 2006. Olson, a staff photographer for the Salem News, took first place in Division A-1 (newspapers with more than 12,000 daily circulation). Two of her entries are shown below. CNHI owns and operates newspapers in more than 200 communities across the country.

Olson graduated from Boston University's College of Communication in 2004, spending two years under the tutelage of professors Peter Southwick and Joe Lippincott. "Their instruction with storytelling and writing precise cutlines were instrumental in my ability to succeed as a full-time staff photographer at The Salem News," Olson says.

Olson landed her first job as a part-time staff photographer at The Eagle Tribune three days before her college graduation. A native of Chatham, Mass., Olson discovered her interest in photography while working on a fish pier and documenting local fishing and lobster trips. She now resides in Beverly, Mass., with her cat Bunker.

Middleton: From left, Dan Kessel, a Middleton Fire Fighter, Dr. Lorraine O'Connor, the state vetrenarian, Mark Vogel, a rescue specialist with the Boston Animal Rescue League, and Danielle Moore, also a rescue specialist with the ARL, lead Acorn, a small five-year-old pony, through chest deep waters on Thunder Bridge Lane away from Mystic Pines horse farm because of heavy flooding from the Ipswich River. A Middleton firefighter watches the rescue effort behind in another motor boat. Acorn was the 14th horse taken out of the barn, although the first 13 horses were successfully taken out to dry land by riders. Photo by Kristen Olson/Salem News. Monday, May 15, 2006.

Danvers: Peabody's Dan Mello, second baseman, tries to catch a ball that was missed by Peabody short stop Josh Band, while St. John's Prep's Jeff DeCarlo safely slides into second base during their game held at St. John's Prep on Monday afternoon. St. John's Prep defeated Peabody 6-2. Photo by Kristen Olson/Salem News. Monday, April 10, 2006.