Reading the Pictures produces two video programs. Chatting the Pictures is a biweekly, highly-edited 10-minute webcast featuring publisher Michael Shaw and visual academic Cara Finnegan analyzing 3 key news photographs. The Reading the Pictures Salon is a panel discussion concerned with how the media and social media visually frame key social and cultural issues.
Latest Video
Chatting the Pictures: More Pandemic—New York Harbor; Las Vegas Homeless; NYC ICU
This webcast on the pandemic looks at a symbolic scene in New York Harbor, a troubling Las Vegas shelter image, and an emotional Brooklyn hospital photo. Continue Reading
Chatting the Pictures: Coronavirus Culture, From Vatican, to Apartment Block, to Corner Bar
This webcast looks at the Pope addressing an empty St. Peters Square, the social power of the Italian balcony, and young revelers before the lock-down.
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Chatting the Pictures: Coronavirus Politics–From the White House, to the Cafe, to the Gun Shop
This week, our webcast looks at a snapshot of the White House coronavirus task force, the virus and social class in a Rome cafe scene, and the run on guns.
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Chatting the Pictures: Virus Cover-up; Racial Politics in Selma; Women Covering the Weinstein Trial
This week, our webcast looks at a coronavirus photo from Washington, African-Americans making a campaign statement, and a tribute to woman journalists.
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Chatting the Pictures: Trump Bloomberg Golf Photo; Xi Masked; Elizabeth Warren’s Glass Ceiling
This week, we look at Trump and Bloomberg's gold game, China's President Xi and the coronavirus, and Elizabeth Warren campaigning.
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Chatting the Pictures: Pelosi Shreds Trump’s SOTU; Coronavirus on the Move; Impeachment Going Away
This week, we look at Pelosi tearing up Trump’s State of the Union speech, the spread of the coronavirus, and the shot summing up Trump’s impeachment trial.
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Chatting the Pictures is a lively, highly edited look at key news photographs. Co-hosts Michael Shaw, publisher of Reading the Pictures, and writer and historian, Cara Finnegan, meet to discuss three prominent photos in the recent news. You can find all the Chatting the Pictures replays here.
The Reading the Pictures Salon analyzes 8-9 carefully researched photos chosen for theme and depth of content. Each 90-minute panel is made up of leading photographers, photo editors, visual academics and other experts experienced in the subject.
Since 2008, we have produced 29 Salons working with sponsors such as Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the Open Society Foundation. We have covered topics from social justice to political campaigns to foreign policy. For examples, take a look at: The Visual Representation of the US/Mexico Border Wall in the Media; How Science is Pictured in the Media and Public Culture; The Visual Framing of the Migrant Crisis; The Visual Framing of Surveillance; The Debate Over White House Photo Access; The Picture from Syria; or The War on Women. Each post contains a full replay of the broadcast, along with 2-3 minute highlight videos from each photo discussed. You can find all the full salons here.