The National Press Photographers Association was founded in 1946. In the first issue of National Press Photographer (published in Boston, Mass. in April 1946), an editorial on the front page proclaimed, "With this issue is born a voice, one that has been mute much too long."
Click to view the first issue of National Press Photographer.
Want to read more about the early history of the NPPA? Purchase a copy of A Voice is Born: The Founding and Early Years of the National Press Photographers Association under the Leadership of Joseph Costa by Claude Cookman. BUY NOW
"We're no longer going to permit ourselves to be relegated to the position of unwelcome, but necessary, stepchildren of the Fourth Estate. We've got a voice, finally, and we're going to make use of it. No false modesty. No muffling of that voice under a barrel. We're going to yell so loud -- when the occasion demands, and not just for the fun of hearing ourselves shout -- that those in this country who have been injuring us with scant courtesy will begin to realize that here is a new force to be reckoned with."
In the early years, the struggles included trying to get cameras allowed into the courtrooms and to improve government/media relations. And, in fact, many of the programs that NPPA has today including the "job bureau" as it was then called, an insurance program, "The Complete Book of Press Photography" and programs for "newsreel cameramen" had their start back in the late 1940s.
But they've grown as have many of NPPA's other programs. Today, NPPA hosts eight national and regional workshops of various types on everything from general photography and motivation to television photography and technology. Today, NPPA has a Job Information Bank that posts several job openings every week. Today, NPPA has an e-commerce store, an AV Library and publishes materials that are in demand by researchers, students, instructors and photojournalists all over the world.
Membership in NPPA is open to professional news photographers and all others whose occupation has a direct professional relationship with photojournalism. All members receive a monthly copy of News Photographer magazine, The Best of Photojournalism Yearbook and 2 Volume Television Winners' DVD, regional publications, access to the Job Information Bank, discounts on all NPPA programs and eligibility to enter all NPPA contests.
 Certificate of Incorporation (PDF, 662KiB) |
 501(c)(6) Certification (PDF, 79KiB) |
 Organizing Committee Letter (PDF, 277KiB) |
 Original NPPA Application (PDF, 862KiB) |
If you have questions about NPPA, don't hesitate to contact us.
