Sean Hughes

Sean Hughes is a full-time Professor in the Department of Journalism at the University of Cincinnati, College of Arts & Sciences. He specializes in photojournalism, multimedia storytelling, and media design, combining academic instruction with active documentary filmmaking. His career spans over 30 years in journalism, design, and education.

• M.A. in Journalism, Ball State University (1993)
• B.A. in Sociology, University of Cincinnati (1992)

Hughes focuses on documentary photography, multimedia journalism, and visual communication. His work explores social justice, cultural narratives, and historical documentation through projects like rephotographic surveys of Ohio's Great Depression-era sites and international documentary studies in Cuba, India, and Mexico. He also directed photography for the 2012 World Choir Games and contributed to educational outreach programs.

His awards include multiple honors from Ohio and Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), Cleveland Press Club, Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN), and AWN. Notably, he received two Ohio SPJ Designer of the Year awards (2004, 2006) and recognition for design excellence in alternative media.

• UC's Urban Futures Digital Futures Anchor Development Program Grant (2019-2020)

Hughes coordinates the photojournalism track in the journalism major, advises students, participates in curriculum development, and serves on university committees like the A&S Diversity Committee. He also collaborates with institutions such as the Ohio Humanities Council and National Endowment for the Arts.