Karen Peterson, the executive editor of the Tacoma News Tribune, writes Sunday about how photojournalist Drew Perine is telling the story of workers for the paper’s Labor Day coverage.
Peterson writes, “Here’s what inspired photojournalist Perine to launch his Labor Day series.
“‘For years it bothered me that ordinary working people didn’t have an easy way to get their stories told in The News Tribune,’ he said. ‘Unless you ran afoul of the law or did something unique or heroic, there was little chance the local newspaper could devote space to the fact that you might be a damn good ditch digger or a talented IT specialist.’
“Perine’s first portrait package, for Labor Day 2001, was themed ‘Dirty jobs.’ He photographed workers at Atlas Foundry, the Port of Tacoma and a wood mill.
“In 2003, the theme was small-business owners. The story started: ‘Running a small business in the South Sound is a matter of passion, say owners who operate their own shops. Most don’t get rich. Vacations don’t always happen. The hours turn long. But there’s a common theme: They love the work.’ Perine photographed owners of a funeral home, a meat market and a wig shop.”
Read more here. This year’s photo theme is “Career Change.”
