Marc Lester has been a staff photojournalist with the Anchorage Daily News since 1999. Marc also writes news feature stories. He was born in Buffalo, NY, and studied visual communication and journalism at Ohio University. He also works with freelance clients.
He can be reached at marcjlester@yahoo.com and on Twitter and Instagram at @marclesterphoto.
Select recognition:
- 2021 First place, Education Reporting, Society of Professional Journalists/Northwest, for “Anchorage graduates are showing cultural pride more than ever. But officials are rethinking a regalia rule that failed some.”
- 2021 Second Place, Sports Reporting, Society of Professional Journalists/Northwest, for “‘Send help now’: Two mushers describe the events that led to their rescue from the Kobuk 440 race trail.”
- 2020 First place, Sports Reporting, Best of the West journalism contest, for “Jason Campeau’s journey to Nome”
- 2020 Second place, Feature writing, Society of Professional Journalists/Northwest, for “So negative yet so positive: At 40 below zero, Fairbanks knows how to chill”
- 2020 Honorable mention, General Feature, Society for Features Journalism Excellence in Features contest, for “A Day in the Life of Lisa Murkowski”
- 2019 Runner Up, Environment and Natural Disaster Reporting, Society of Professional Journalists/Northwest, for “A Western Alaska village, long threatened by erosion and flooding, begins to relocate”
- 2019 Award of Excellence, Communication Arts photography annual, for Vine Road earthquake damage photo.
- 2018 Sigma Delta Chi Award for Breaking News Photography, Society of Professional Journalists, for Vine Road earthquake damage photo.
- 2018 First place, Crime and Justice Reporting, Society of Professional Journalists/Northwest, for “Rethinking Alaska’s Only Maximum Security Prison.”
- 2018 First place, Sports Feature Story, Society of Professional Journalists/Northwest, for “Kamaka Hepa’s shot, from behind the Arctic Circle.”
- 2016 First place, Sports Feature Writing, Society of Professional Journalists/Northwest, for “A Football Culture is Growing in a Traditional Russian Village“
- 2015, 2012, and 2011 Regional Photographer of the Year (Alaska, Oregon and Washington), National Press Photographers Association Monthly News Clips Contest
- 2015 Second place in Feature Series or Project, Society for Features Journalism Excellence-In-Features, for “Man Down: Chronic Alcoholism on the Streets of Anchorage” (team entry with Michelle Theriault Boots)
- 2015 Public Service Award, Alaska Press Club, for “Man Down: Chronic Alcoholism on the Streets of Anchorage” (team entry with Michelle Theriault Boots)
- 2014 Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service Journalism, Society of Professional Journalists (team entry with Kyle Hopkins and editors) for State of Intoxication: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- 2014 Fellow, National Health Journalism Fellowship, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
- 2009 Best of Photojournalism, third place Road to the Office Audio Slideshow category for “Ted Stevens Campaigns.”
- 2008 Best of Photojournalism, first place in News Audio Slideshow for “Becker Family Says Goodbye.”