Susan -- Susan Markisz-- About the job

Susan Markisz (Smarkisz@aol.com)
Photojournalist
The Riverdale Press

The Community

Riverdale is a relatively affluent, diverse community in the Northwest Bronx. When I first moved here from Manhattan, I called up the local post office to complain that I was not receiving all of my mail. The postal employee asked me where I'd had my mail forwarded. When I said: "Riverdale, NY 10463" he told me that the official post office address was the Bronx. "Not only that," he added, "speaking as a member of the Bronx County Historical Society technically, you live in Spuyten Duyvil!"

Our weekly newspaper is nevertheless called The Riverdale Press. An award winning community newspaper whose coverage encompasses the neighborhoods of Riverdale, Fieldston, Spuyten Duyvil, Kingsbridge, and Van Cortlandt Village, The Press covers issues that impact its residents including politics, education and environmental issues, art and theater, profiles of its residents, community services, sports and "Police Beat."

Riverdale enjoys incomparable views of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers. In the spring and fall, one can hear the coxswain calling out commands to the oarsmen of the Columbia crew as they practice at dawn on a misty river, or at dusk in a dramatic sunset.

One of the benefits of working for a weekly newspaper is having the opportunity to connect with people without always having to rush off to the next assignment. As a newspaper photographer, this is a luxury.

A few years ago I spent a couple of hours with Reverend William Tieck, Bronx historian and author who died last year at the age of 89. A gentle man with an engaging wit and a knack for storytelling, he was the pastor of a congregation of 20 at Edgehill Church, a small landmark church tucked away amidst the private homes and hi rises of Spuyten Duyvil. Rev. Tieck spent some time explaining to me the biblical significance of the two Tiffany windows in his church while sitting at the bart of David.

The People

Most of the people I photograph are not famous and some of the things we write about will not make headlines in the New York daily newspapers, but the people who make this part of the Bronx special are as important to our community and to the world as any written about in the dailies. They just haven't been discovered yet. Joel Seidenstein is a Constitutional Law teacher at the Bronx High School of Science. I saw him in action last year in one of his classes, gesturing exuberantly to his students in expectation of the answers to his many and difficult questions, and throwing Hershey's kisses to them when they answered correctly.

Occasionally, I've had opportunities to photograph celebrities and politicians---Madeleine Albright and Oliver Stone, both speakers at the Bronx High School of Science, New York City Mayors David Dinkins and Rudolph Giuliani, Harrison Ford (on location), Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, ah...and yes the Pope, to name a few.

While covering the Papal visit in the Meadowlands, I made a grave error and stood up in an area in which I was not credentialed, now commonly referred to among family members as my "Papal Escapades." The director of the Pontiff's security threw me out with no reprieve. Lest we believe that there is equality in photojournalism, I went through the same procedures to get credentialed as everyone else at the major newspapers and networks, and I was relegated to cover the the Pope in the rafters. I eventually prevailed, however, and got pictures both at the Meadowlands, and in Central Park while accompanying some parishioners from one of our local churches. As a Catholic, however, somehow the spirit of the event eluded me.

"Nicole Takes a Step" Elation shows on the face of Nicole Khalili, 6 who took a few steps towards a ladder despite her cerebral palsy, as her mother, Nora, looks on. Nicole's mother was told that her daughter would never sit up or use her hands or legs. Nicole is taking part in a program called Conductive Education, which is a method to teach handicapped children to realize their potential and to overcome some of their physical limitations by motivating their minds to teach their bodies to strive for self sufficiency.

Every summer Van Cortlandt Park plays host to the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera productions. To be up on stage or behind the scenes as Bobby McFerrin conducts the Philharmonic Orchestra, or five feet away from the trombones as they play Leonard Bernstein's "Music for Symphonic Dances", or to hear Metropolitan Opera Soprano Denyce Graves sing Bizet's "Carmen" is a little like having the keys to the city.

Approximately 23% of the population is over 65.

There are five parochial k-8 schools (4 Roman Catholic, 3 Yeshivas), five elementary k-5 public schools, three private k-12 schools , one public middle school and one public high school. There is plenty going on academically, including special help for developmentally disabled children and there are intergenerational programs in conjunction with the area nursing homes and schools.

The Issues

Families coping with their children's disabilities, the endless dilemma over budget cuts to social services and teen programs, and controversy over how to assimilate adults with disabilities in group homes are some of the issues that I have covered.

In 1995, a program called Individualized Residential Alternatives for mentally challenged adults was met with some concern in the neighborhood. After living in a group home for most of his life, Ross George, a gentle man of 50 showed the reporter and me his first apartment with pride, asking us: "Do you like it? Do you really think it's nice?"...and Leo and Lorraine Rosen, married for over 37 years, both worried about what the neighbors think of their presence in the community. We often have this perception of the "mentally challenged" as being "emotionally deficient" or unaware of public perception. These individuals gracefully, and poignantly shared their concerns, hopes and dreams, some which have taken almost a lifetime to realize.

With eight churches and five synagogues there is an ecumenical spirit in the community. Unfortunately, we suffer the same social maladies that impact other communities such as prejudice, vandalism, anti-Semitism and other crimes. Riverdale has one of the highest car theft rates in the nation. While it is rare for a police officer to lose his life while on duty here, I've covered two police funerals in the last few years. There is almost nothing more sad, nor more ceremonially poignant. Ironically, I think it's one of the few times the Police Department welcomes media coverage

The Newspaper

A family newspaper founded 50 years ago by David and Ceil Stein, The Riverdale Press has been under the stewardship, since 1980, of their two sons, Bernard Stein, who was twice a Pulitzer Prize finalist for editorial writing, and his brother and co-publisher Richard, who is responsible for its award winning design. A broadsheet with a circulation of 15,000 and a staff of 25, The Riverdale Press is divided into two sections, with our B section, called "Better Living" devoted to art, theater, local profile or a multiple picture feature story, and several times a month there is a third special section, devoted to Health, Seniors, Kids, Celebrations or some other subject that follows the standard recipe.

In January of 1996, we switched to an electronic darkroom. In late 1997 we switched from hand processing Tri-X in D-76 to color neg. Each photographer is responsible for editing and scanning his/her own photographs, with the final edit made by our ME (managing editor).

In terms of awards, the newspaper has received the following: Best Community Newspaper in New York State Awarded by the New York Press Association 5 out of the last 10 years; First Place for Photographic Excellence by the New York Press Association; Award for Best Written Community Newspaper in the Country by the National Newspaper Association, Awards for Graphic Excellence including Photography by the National Newspaper Association and the First Amendment Award from the Society of Professional Journalists in 1990.

Personally, I won a NPPA regional clip contest award in 1995 for multiple pictures for a photo layout on the Joan Miller Dance Players. Three out of the last five years I was a finalist in the Gordon Parks Competition, for one of my Conductive Education Photographs and twice for personal work which earned an honorable mention in 1994 and 1997. Last year I received First Place for Spot News from the New York Press Association for a fire, and in 1996 I was awarded First Place, General News and First Place, Best of Metro by the National Press Photographers Association Metro Chapter. In terms of achievement, it's really nice to be recognized by colleagues; the plaques and certificates are great and feed my insatiable ego; but even better is when someone stops me in the street and says how much they like my work.

Documenting my own community has its advantages. My children and their friends are a barometer of what's going on in the neighborhood. It's not uncommon for me to get a phone call from one of them, alerting me to a spot news event, or some new trend.

Riverdale, a.k.a. the Bronx is where I've raised my children. I've been fortunate to see it through their eyes, and grateful to see it through the lens of my camera. It's a beautiful place.

Susan B. Markisz

February 1998