Dennis Dunleavy

Dennis Dunleavy’s career reflects a unique combination of practitioner, scholar, and teacher. As an award-winning photojournalist with extensive documentary experience, he has reported on people and events for major news organizations. As a writer and researcher, he explores visual culture and mass communication in a digital age. As an educator, he has spent years helping students develop visual literacy and critical awareness of how images shape understanding in an increasingly media-saturated world.

He has contributed to the peer-reviewed journal Visual Communication Quarterly for many years and has served as a contributing editor and bibliography editor. His scholarship includes research on visual semiotics and iconic news imagery, as well as contributions to major reference works such as The Handbook of Visual Communication Research.

In 2006, American Photo magazine recognized his photography blog, The Big Picture, as a “Top Innovator” for its contributions to discussions of photography and visual culture.

Major Themes

Before entering academia, Dunleavy spent more than two decades as a correspondent and photojournalist. His photographs and reporting appeared in a range of newspapers, magazines, and news organizations, including the New York Times, Miami Herald, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Maryknoll Revista, Maryknoll, Presbyterian Survey, the National Catholic Reporter, and Christian Century Today.

At Benedictine College, he teaches visual communication, media writing, opinion writing, digital photography, and video production in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications.