NY Times Selects Meaghan Looram as Its New Director of Photography

Earlier this year, the New York Times began searching for a new Director of Photography to replace Michele McNally, who announced her retirement in February after 14 years in that role. After considering both external and internal candidates, the Times has selected Meaghan Looram, who served as one of McNally’s top deputies for 8 years.

.@mlooram named director of photography @nytimes. Read on in a note from @deanbaquet and @nycscribe https://t.co/919FStsw40

— NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) July 20, 2018

“Meaghan has overseen a large staff of photo editors, photographers and freelancers who routinely produce much of the best photojournalism in the world,” NYT executive editor Dean Baquet and managing editor Joe Kahn write. “She has recruited and developed many of our most talented photo editors and has helped create and maintain a photographic aesthetic that has contributed significantly to the identity of The Times.”

“[…] Our search for a new Director of Photography produced many internal and external candidates, and we heard from major players in the industry, which wasn’t much of a surprise. Still, the prestige surrounding our Photo department only adds to the excitement about the desk’s future and about Meaghan’s tenure.”

In searching for a new photo director, the Times called the position “one of the most important and high-profile jobs in visual journalism.”

Looram grew up in California and graduated from Stanford before heading east and eventually becoming the Deputy Director of Photography of the Times before this latest promotion.

Notable photo editors and photographers have voiced their approval of Looram’s selection as director:

In good hands: @mlooram is the @nytimes director of photography! https://t.co/2LgUapFzGi

— Pamela Chen 🙋🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ (@pc) July 23, 2018

Wonderful news for @Nytimes and the #photojournalism community at large! Brava. https://t.co/DKAgVZntxT

— barbara davidson (@photospice) July 20, 2018

Congratulations to Meaghan Looram, the new director of photography at the New York Times: https://t.co/XImP2aFjrP

— olivierclaurent (@olivierclaurent) July 20, 2018

Great news! My colleague Meaghan Looram has been named the Director of Photography at the New York Times. A smart move that is good for the Times and good for the photography world. https://t.co/ybZvErchH3

— JamesEstrin (@JamesEstrin) July 21, 2018

“This was a very wise move, that is excellent news for the Times, the photo department and the photography world in general,” writes Times senior staff photographer and Lens founder James Estrin.

Image credits: Video and featured still frame by World Press Photo