Kevin Lamarque ’85
Q: Tell us about your career path and where you are today?
A: I began this journey, like many in the business did, at a small daily newspaper, way back in 1985, after graduating from Syracuse. After little more than a year, I received a wonderful opportunity, courtesy of a Syracuse classmate, to go to Hong Kong and work for the Reuters News Picture Service. I spent the next two years in Hong Kong as a photo editor and shooter. I was a wide-eyed kid trying to absorb all I could from the vast Reuters network and reveling in my chance to live abroad. I spent two fantastic years in Hong Kong before transferring to London. There I would spend the next 10 years (1989-1999) traveling throughout the UK and Europe covering news and sports, including my favorite yearly assignment, two weeks sitting courtside photographing Wimbledon.
In early 1999, a position opened up in Washington, D.C., and it seemed like a good time to head back to the states. This job primarily involved covering the White House for Reuters. It has now been 18 years, spanning from the last year of Bill Clinton's presidency to the first year under Trump. I have a trunkload of memories from my front-row seat to history. Walking up the driveway of the White House most mornings is pretty special, but nothing is as humbling and awesome as walking up the steps of Air Force One and jetting off to the next story in the next country. Flying around the world, several times over, aboard Air Force One, representing Reuters has been the thrill and honor of a lifetime.
Q: How did your SU experience prepare you for your career?
A: My photojournalism degree from the Newhouse School gave me sound footing for the the rest of what I would learn out on the streets. The strong emphasis on journalism ethics, photographic technique, and storytelling have served me well in my work to this very day.
Q: Looking back, what SU experiences have been the most meaningful to you?
A: I think my semester spent abroad in London had the greatest influence on the direction I took. I knew from that semester spent in England that I wanted to travel and see the world. That wish came true, with more travel than I ever could have imagined.
Q: Why do you feel that it is important to remain connected to the alumni network and the University?
A: I never would have had the opportunity to embark on this life had it not been for a fellow SU student who preceded me at Reuters in Hong Kong. The photo world is a small one, and it makes me proud to see how many Syracuse graduates have done so many great things in this difficult business.
Q: What advice would you give students?
A: The photojournalism profession has changed beyond anyone's wildest imagination, and this pace will only increase. The merging of video, text, and pictures is well underway. I would advise any media students to acquire a broad range of news-gathering skills along with a strong background in business. Young people entering the media world will change jobs and skill sets with far more frequency than what was required of my generation. I would also advise any student who has the chance to live abroad.