John Bodnar is honored as a 2010 Distinguished Alumnus for his extraordinary work as a photojournalist covering the nation’s most important events. His travels have taken him all the way from WIUP-FM to Air Force One—and his adventures continue.
Mr. Bodnar graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Media. He joined CNN when it was still a fledgling network, and for the past twenty-six years has helped build it into the global newsgathering institution it is today.
As a photojournalist for CNN, he has logged thousands of sleep-deprived miles covering the campaign trail, all while lugging hundreds of pounds of gear. In addition to his campaign coverage, Mr. Bodnar has covered every major event in Washington, where lawmakers have known him by his first name.
He has traveled with and covered every president since Ronald Reagan, whose campaign he followed in 1984. Mr. Bodnar first flew on Air Force One to the G7 economic summit in 1984. While there, he covered a memorable photo opportunity that included François Mitterrand, Margaret Thatcher, Yasuhiro Nakasone, Ronald Reagan, Brian Mulroney, Benito Cracsi, and Helmut Kohl.
In 2008, Mr. Bodnar spent three weeks covering the Republican and Democratic national conventions. Throughout his career, he has worked with some of the biggest names in journalism. In addition to working with John King, Anderson Cooper, Candy Crowley, and Bill Schneider, Mr. Bodnar worked for Lou Dobbs on the Emmy Award-winning series Broken Borders and War on the Middle Class.
Mr. Bodnar has shot video at star-studded galas at the Kennedy Center and has staked out some of Washington’s most notorious figures, including Oliver North, Marion Barry, John Hinckley, Jr., and those associated with the Iran-Contra scandal and the Microsoft antitrust trial. He has covered sports figures and weather events and won a Peabody Award for his team’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.
In addition to being a member of the White House News Photographers Association and the Capitol Radio-Television Association, he has become an unofficial goodwill ambassador for IUP. Students and graduates seek him out, and he answers their questions and offers advice.
Mr. Bodnar resides in Washington, D.C.
Profile published on 5/11/10
2010 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
