Michael Shaw

Michael Shaw is a clinical psychologist and the publisher of Reading the Pictures, a non-profit organization dedicated to the analysis of news photography and media images.23 He is recognized as an analyst of news photos and visual journalism, frequently lecturing and writing on topics such as visual politics, photojournalism, and media literacy.35

Shaw has been referred to as the first full-time news photo critic.1 He launched Reading the Pictures in 2004, which has since become a prominent platform followed by news and visual media professionals, the photojournalism community, and academic institutions.1 The organization focuses on daily analysis of news and cultural images across various platforms, including its website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.1

In addition to his work with Reading the Pictures, Shaw is known for:

1. Giving lectures on visual aspects of political campaigns, such as his presentation "The Backlash Election: Campaign '16 In Pictures".1
2. Hosting the Reading the Pictures Salon, a series examining how media and social media visually frame major news events.1
3. Publishing content on Substack, where he shares thoughts on images chosen by the media as Photos of the Year.4

Shaw's expertise in visual analysis and media literacy has established him as a respected figure in the field of news imagery and photojournalism.