Archiving Today: Possibilities, Limits, and the Future of Visual Legacy

Jun 82025

Archiving Today: Possibilities, Limits, and the Future of Visual Legacy

Archiving Today

Presented by:

What happens to a photojournalist’s archive—both analog and digital—when it spans hundreds of thousands of images? And what is at stake if we lose it? With the industry at a crossroads and few institutions able to absorb work at this scale, the legacy of those who have spent a lifetime bearing witness is at risk. In this conversation, Kira Pollack explores how technology might help solve issues of preservation, discoverability, and access. Drawing on her present work as a Walter Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and at the Starling Lab (Stanford/USC), Pollack shares insights from projects with the archives of David Guttenfelder and Christopher Morris. A short presentation will open the session, followed by an interactive discussion on emerging strategies, challenges, and best practices.

Presenter Bios

Kira Pollack

Kira Pollack is a pioneering photo editor and creative director known for her innovative work in visual storytelling, multimedia, and digital platforms. She led Vanity Fair‘s visual direction, overseeing 50+ covers. Previously, at TIME, she launched Red Border Films and LightBox. Pollack’s work has earned two Emmys, a Lucie Award, five National Magazine Awards, and more. She is currently a Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard.

Organizations

CatchLight

CatchLight is a visual-first media organization that leverages the power of visual storytelling to inform, connect, and transform communities. The organization invests in the future of visual storytelling through the CatchLight Local Visual Journalism Initiative, which seeks to establish the sustainability of visual journalism by providing community-based newsrooms with editorial resources, training, and strategic partnerships; the CatchLight Global Fellowship, which provides grants $30,000 annually to three visual storytelling leaders worldwide; and CatchLight Live, public programs including the Visual Storytelling Summit and Night of Photojournalism, which showcase impact in visual storytelling and expand public awareness, access, and support for the field.
PhotoWings

PhotoWings believes that photography has the power to influence the world. As such, we invest in strategic collaborations and programs that help make photography better understood, created, utilized, seen and saved. We also have a rich archive with hundreds of hours of original interviews and partner presentations from both within and outside the photo world, as well as curricula, tool kits, resources and community activities. We believe that meaningful engagement with photography can foster deep thinking, communication and help people better understand and navigate the world.

PhotoWings has been a proud partner of the Eddie Adams Workshop since 2015, and of Catchlight and Photoville since 2017.