News Tribune photographer Julie Smith was inducted into the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame on Thursday at a ceremony in Columbia.
The Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to Missouri journalism and provides an exhibit venue to showcase their work. Smith is now one of the 69 photojournalists in the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame as her black-and-white photo of a Catholic nun playing tennis, taken in the early '90s, joins the collection.
Six photojournalists and teachers of photography and journalism were inducted at Thursday's ceremony. This was the 17th group of inductees since the founding of the hall in 2005.
Smith, born and raised in Jefferson City, will celebrate her 32nd anniversary with the News Tribune in December. Her interest in photography began in high school where she was on the yearbook staff. She bought a Kodak 110 Instamatic from JC Penney, unaware she was beginning a lifelong journey.
After she graduated from high school, her passion for photography was reignited when she received Yashica 35mm Rangefinder and taught herself technical and compositional skills by trial and error. In 1982, she started working at Wright Camera Shop in Jefferson City where she built a relationship with the News Tribune chief photographer, a role she would later take on. In 1989, she began working at the News Tribune part time and became a full-time employee a couple months later.
Smith has received numerous prestigious awards, including the W.E. Hussman Employee of the Year Award for WEHCO Media's Palmer Division of newspapers, a nomination for the Zonta Yellow Rose Woman of Achievement, the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce Exceptional Employee of the Year award and a parade for "Julie Smith Day."