[Deathwatch] Charlie McCarty, photojournalism pioneer, 88

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Photojournalism Pioneer Charlie McCarty Dies at 88
Wed Jan 21
	
LONDON (Reuters) - Charlie McCarty, founder of Reuters News Pictures
Service and a pioneer of modern photojournalism, has died at his home
near Brussels, aged 88.

In a career spanning more than half a century, McCarty's extraordinary
passion for photography and news led him to develop a series of
innovations that advanced both the quality of news pictures and the
speed at which they are processed.

His tough, highly professional training methods also spawned a
generation of news photographers who looked on their mentor with
respect and affection.

The personal motto of the San Francisco-born McCarty, who died Monday,
was "cruel but fair" and his tenacious pursuit of a story and
competitive rule of "hard work never hurt anyone" stayed with him into
retirement.

McCarty covered every story that came his way, from natural disasters
to politics, sports and coups. He taught his proteges to get the "one
best" picture that would appear on next day's front pages and demanded
they never stand for coming second.

Reuters Editor-in-Chief Geert Linnebank paid tribute to the
indefatigable American, who finally retired in 1998 when he was well
past his 80th birthday.

"Charlie McCarty holds a unique place in the news picture business," he
said. "His energy, drive and enthusiasm and his determination to see
the highest professional standards met changed the face of the
industry.

"There are scores of news photographers in Reuters and elsewhere who
owe a huge debt of gratitude to Charlie."

DISTINGUISHED CAREER

McCarty founded Reuters News Pictures Service in 1985 after a
distinguished career with United Press International. Although past
normal retirement age, he invested his experience and energy into
turning the new service into a market leader.

Known for his blue button-down shirts and his sharp sense of humor,
McCarty received the John Durniak Mentor Award in 2002 for his lifetime
achievements in photojournalism.

McCarty's career began when he was serving with the U.S. Army signal
corps during World War II, setting up an Army picture network between
San Francisco and Washington.

After the war, he took a job with ACME, the forerunner of United Press,
as a staff news photographer in San Francisco.

In 1951 he moved to Dallas for United Press, where he was instrumental
in convincing newspapers to abandon their slow and bulky equipment and
experiment with the small and fast 35mm cameras with motor-drives and
electronic flash.

In the 1960s he became Assistant General Manager for UPI in New York
and then moved to Brussels in 1971 to head their international news
pictures operations.

Reuters bought UPI's international news pictures service in 1985, a
move that brought a late impetus to his career.

McCarty is survived by his daughter Pat, who is Reuters Deputy Sports
Editor. His funeral takes place Friday in Uccle, Belgium.