About Karen Kring

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Decades after graduating from Niles North, I found myself living in Skokie and liking it.

A connector, convener and sharer, I've dedicated much of my professional and personal life to bringing relevant, enriching stories to light and bridging the gap between people of different backgrounds.

My professional experience is wide, but focused on journalism, publishing and communication work. Right now I'm running The Kring Group, a consultancy specializing in strategic media, photography and journalism focused on innovation.

Before founding what is now The Kring Group, I served as Assistant Director of Media Relations for Illinois Institute of Technology. I connected journalists with interest stories relating to IIT on topic ranging from campus safety to nuclear power.

Community Media Workshop's mission is to help connect the community with the media in order to get important, unreported stories told. I served as its new media manager for four editions of its Getting on the Air, Online and into Print media guide, managed its website, produced its newsletters and then some.

I've bought, sold, assigned, edited or produced photos for the Panoramic Images, General Learning Communications, Associated Press, Rockford Register Star, Sun-Times Media Group, Chicago Tribune and other news outlets.

In 1993 I co-founded PICTURE THIS Projects with other women photographers. It remains a philanthropic organization of photographers, journalists and other community members supporting and creating photo projects that encourage creative expression, self-esteem and community building.

Lessons learned through PTP influenced my vision for the All Skokie Photo Project, an inclusive community photo project focused on making a pictures of everyone who calls themselves a Skokian, in order to encourage creative expression, help bridge the gap between people of different backgrounds and promote pride in Skokie while enhancing the photography collection of the Skokie Historical Society. Active from May 2010-May 2011, it is currently on hiatus until further support is identified.

-- Karen Kring


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