Alison Kendall has been a photo researcher and visual media editor at Encyclopædia Britannica for more than 25 years. Prior to joining Britannica, she worked as a photo librarian and photo news editor for the Associated Press.
Education
B.S. in Companion Animal Biology | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.S. in Journalism | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
In Alison’s Own Words…
The photographs throughout Britannica are an essential part of how we convey information and explain the world. An image has a unique ability to reflect details, nuance, and even emotion in ways that words simply can’t. Images are a critical part of how we learn and comprehend.
At Britannica, images are held to the same rigorous standards of accuracy and relevance as the written words. It’s my job to meet these high standards by seeking out the ideal photograph to help readers gain the fullest possible understanding of any given subject, whether it's Paul McCartney or something arcane. Finding the right photograph can be a wonderfully challenging puzzle, leading me and my colleagues to museum archives, government libraries, or individual photographers or artists.
I find it enormously satisfying to know that the thousands of images I have painstakingly sourced for Britannica help curious readers gain a better understanding of one small part of the world, its history, and its people.
