Chris Ochsner
Overland Park,KS
Summary
Assistant Managing Editor of Photography with senior‑level expertise leading award‑winning visual coverage for major events. Directed a team of 12 photojournalists delivering coverage of two World Series and five Super Bowls while integrating digital‑first video and SEO strategies. Recognized for strategic newsroom collaboration and staff mentoring that boosted audience engagement. Ready to apply deep photography management experience to elevate content quality and drive growth.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Managing Editor of Photography
The Kansas City Star
Kansas City, MO
09.2015 - 11.2025
- Directed a team of 12 award‑winning photojournalists to deliver visual coverage of the Kansas City metro area, resulting in higher audience engagement and expanded readership
- Partnered with newsroom editors to devise and organize coverage for diverse stories, streamlining workflow and improving story turnaround time
- Directed and curated on‑deadline visual coverage for high‑profile events, including two World Series and five Super Bowl games, delivering compelling imagery that boosted event page traffic
- Facilitated staff transition to digital‑first publishing, emphasizing video news coverage and SEO best practices, which increased online video views and improved search rankings
Deputy Director of Photography
The Kansas City Star
10.2005 - 09.2015
- Collaborated with photographers, reporters, and editors using newsroom collaboration tools to plan story coverage, resulting in cohesive visual storytelling that met publication deadlines
- Organized staff schedules and coordinated with sources for on‑location photo shoots, leveraging image routing software, which ensured photos were captured and delivered on time for print and digital publishing
Weekend photo editor/Photographer
The Kansas City Star
09.2002 - 10.2005
- Collaborated with the nighttime editing team using PhotoMechanic and Photoshop to select and edit photos, ensuring the daily newspaper was published on time and met visual standards
- Delivered award-winning photos from news assignments during photography shifts bi-weekly
Staff photographer
The Topeka Capital-Journal
Topeka, KS
12.1990 - 09.2002
- Captured award-winning images for news articles and features across diverse topics
- Executed on-location shoots, adjusting to diverse environments and conditions
- Pioneered transition to digital photography as an early adopter of innovative photo equipment
Staff Photographer
The Hutchinson News
Hutchinson, KS
10.1985 - 11.1990
- Captured award-winning images for news articles and features across diverse topics
- Executed on-location shoots, adjusting to diverse environments and conditions
- At forefront of integrating color photography into daily newspaper
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KSKansas State University
Manhattan, KSSkills
- Visual storytelling
- Photo editing
- Digital publishing
- Team leadership
- Photography management
- Newsroom collaboration
- Problem solving
- Work scheduling
- SEO strategies
- Deadline driven
- Adobe Creative Suite
- PhotoMechanic
- Layout coordination
- Strong attention to detail
- Task prioritization
- Content development
- Writing and editing
- Staff mentoring
- Creative direction
- Project coordination
Certification
FAA Part 107 drone pilot license
Timeline
Assistant Managing Editor of Photography
The Kansas City Star
09.2015 - 11.2025
Deputy Director of Photography
The Kansas City Star
10.2005 - 09.2015
Weekend photo editor/Photographer
The Kansas City Star
09.2002 - 10.2005
Staff photographer
The Topeka Capital-Journal
12.1990 - 09.2002
Staff Photographer
The Hutchinson News
10.1985 - 11.1990
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Fort Hays State University
Kansas State University