University of Florida - Berlin 2014 Study-Abroad Photojournalism Program

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Professor John Freeman led this study-abroad course to Berlin from May 16 to May 29, 2014. It was the 10th summer in a row he helped students conduct field research to document the spirit and vitality of the city where he attended high school as an Air Force "brat." At the peak of the Cold War, 1968 to 1971, Freeman lived in West Berlin, surrounded by the Wall, a barrier he thought would never fall. The idea of returning to a free and unified Berlin with students came to him while on sabbatical during fall 2004. 

During the course, 17 students were introduced to the city through bicycle and walking tours, followed by meetings with foreign correspondents. This year we met with international illustrator Christoph Niemann, photojournalist John MacDougall of AFP and Mary Lane, European arts reporter for the Wall Street Journal. During the two weeks in Berlin, students were free to find and develop a picture story that suited their interests, as well as stand-alone photos (see Gallery). A unique aspect of the course is that all work was completed on-site. Special thanks to the folks at Soundslides.com who provided complimentary software. The group celebrated its success with a farewell dinner atop Berlin's landmark TV Tower.

Freeman is a tenured associate professor in the department of journalism at the University of Florida and is a two-time winner of the College Teacher of the Year award. He has also been named Educator of the Year by the  National Press Photographer Association. He is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and has a master's in communication from Wichita State University, where he taught for 10 years before joining UF in 1991. Publications he has worked for include The New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, Getty Images, The Los Angeles Times, The Wichita Eagle and The Bergen Co. (N.J.) Record. He was on a faculty fellowship at National Geographic in summer 1996. Freeman is married and has two grown children.

Daron Dean, a 2004 graduate of the College and two-time Hearst finalist, served as teaching assistant. He works at the St. Augustine Record and shoots freelance for many national publications and organizations. Daron had internships at the Dallas Morning News and Anchorage Daily News. As an adjunct at UF, he teaches JOU4604, Advanced Photojournalism I, every fall semester.

Links of interest:  2005 |  2006 |  2007 |  2008 |  2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | John Freeman home
 Fat Tire Bike Tours |  Original Berlin Walks Tour |  Transit-Loft Hotel |  Official Berlin City Tourism Site

  
  Prof. John Freeman
 

 

  Daron Dean