News Story

When news of Washington Post photojournalist Michel du Cille’s death came Dec. 11, IU journalism faculty, alumni and students shared their thoughts about one of the program’s most notable alumni.

The lives du Cille touched at IU Journalism range from those who remember him as a student, such as former dean Trevor Brown and Vivian Counts, widow of photojournalism professor Will Counts, to recent grads and current students, who heard du Cille talk to their classes during his several visits to Ernie Pyle Hall in recent years.

Here are a few of the comments that arrived via email, in phone conversations and on social media.

Associate professor Jim Kelly:

Kelly was in graduate school in Bloomington in 1988 when he was asked to put together a display in the Ernie Pyle Hall lobby of du Cille’s essay on crack cocaine addicts in Miami.

“The project gave me opportunity to talk to Michel on the phone several times, and he told me story after story about working with the addicts. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn from a great photographer.

Over the years since, I’ve been lucky to share emails and visits, and even a couple beers at Nick’s with Michel. He was always so generous with stories and insight. He left you feeling as if you were just as capable of great things as he was, even though I knew very well that he was truly exceptional.

Then three years ago, Michel shared the Buskirk-Chumley stage with Melissa Farlow and Bill Foley—fellow IU journalism alumni and Pulitzer prize winners—for a Will Counts Memorial Lecture. My photo student Olivia Corya and I moderated the panel. Michel told a story about that crack-infested housing project in 1988. I sat there remembering the first time he had told me that story over the phone as I was getting ready to print from his negatives. He said he’d tired of seeing a resident’s baby sitting in dirty diapers, so he’d gone out and bought some diapers, washed the baby and changed it. He said it was about dignity, and I know it was, because that’s what his photojournalism was always about. Whether in Columbia, Miami, Washington or Liberia, Michel du Cille always treated his subjects with care and respect. He gave them their dignity.

I will miss his inspiring voice and his gentle guidance. Godspeed, Michel.”

Professor Steve Raymer

“Michel was my friend and a photojournalist who gave meaning to the words empathy, compassion and intimacy through in his images. We first met in November 1985 in Colombia covering the explosion and aftermath of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano that killed some 20,000 of the 29,000 inhabitants of Armero on the mountain’s snow-covered slopes. I was in awe then as a National Geographic photographer, as I am today, at Michel’s single-minded dedication and persistence to get the picture of suffering and human tragedy. And to do it with compassion and sensitivity.

His Pulitzer Prize-winning images of the scandal at Walter Red Army Hospital in Washington , D.C., over the treatment of the returning wounded held public officials accountable. People were fired, retired and, most important, soldiers were given better care after the secretary of defense personally intervened as the result of Michel’s reporting.

Several months ago, as the extent and magnitude of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa was becoming apparent, Michel already was on the story, making images that will serve as testimony in the court of public opinion about the extent of the suffering. Michel was a professional eyewitness for all of us, and he did his job with sensitivity and dedication.

Michel set an example for the profession of photojournalism, as well as for the students at Indiana University, which he visited regularly and with great affection. I shall miss him and the example he set for us all to tell the story of the human condition.”

Former IU School of Journalism Dean and Professor Emeritus Trevor Brown

“Michel du Cille was a ceaseless advocate for equality in status for photojournalism and photojournalists in news and newsrooms.  That commitment came naturally to him, but he always acknowledged the inspiration of his IU mentors, Will Counts and John Alhauser.

Michel’s impact as a photojournalist came from courage tempered by humanity in pursuit of the truth of the human condition in challenging circumstances – addiction, war, natural disaster and disease.  Those were the qualities he expressed in manner and content as guest speaker and advisory board member for the School of Journalism, a becoming charm and a steely resolve.

IU’s School of Journalism has educated and inspired many extraordinary journalists.  Michel’s marvelous accomplishments make him a fitting companion in stature with one of its greatest alums.  Ernie Pyle and Michel du Cille are exemplars of the equality in power of words and images in story-telling and truth-telling, especially when, as Michel relentlessly insisted, they are thoughtfully combined.”

Vivian Counts, widow of journalism professor Will Counts

“He came to IU with only a suitcase.  He didn’t even have a camera but wanted desperately to ‘shoot pictures.’ Will gave him one of his.

At Will’s retirement celebration, Michel said he was disappointed that Will didn’t receive the Pulitzer Prize he deserved, so he would share one of his with Will.

It’s hard to believe this lovely man won’t be with us any longer, only in our hearts and our wonderful memories.”

News Corps’ Raju Narisetti, MA’91

“I had the great joy and privilege of working with Michel in all the three years I was a managing editor at The Washington Post as visuals, including photo, reported to me. What always struck me about Michel was his thoughtful yet firm gentleness, whether it was defending a photo selection or making a case for one of his photographers.

We collaborated during what was one of the most difficult periods in Post’s history: enormous pressure from the business side to cut newsroom budgets; significant changes that were needed in workflow and publishing methods as we combined our print and digital newsrooms; the need for Michel to deal with significant health issues; and key personnel changes that involved Michel voluntarily giving up some management responsibilities to accommodate the ever-changing demands of a newsroom morphing from a print-focus to a real-time digital and mobile focus.

Not once do I remember Michel raising his voice or losing that gentle, thoughtful demeanor that was a hallmark. And the joy he would feel and express in stopping you, as you walked by his office to get to the back elevators, to show off a wonderful image from a contact sheet of many great images sent in by one of his photographers.

He was at his creative, joyful best when it came to pulling together the Post’s Pulitzer Prize entry packages, going down to the wire on submission deadlines but taking immense pride in the work of his talented team of photographers, which included the likes of Carol Guzy and Michael Williamson to name just a couple of the incredibly talented Post photographers.

We spoke often about Indiana University and our respective stints in Bloomington, commiserating how it was a difficult place to get back to as much as we wanted to.

What a great loss–for the Post newsroom, its global audience, for the world of unflinchingly honest photojournalism and for Nikki.”

Photographer Melissa Farlow, BA’74, who was a co-panelist with du Cille at the 2011 Will Counts Memorial Lecture

“When Michel was a student at Indiana University’s School of Journalism, he came to Louisville to intern at the Courier-Journal and Louisville Times newspapers. He impressed and charmed our staff with a sincere desire to learn.

His career accomplishments and awards are impressive, but all who knew him well understood that what drove him was his passion to do important work and bring understanding to difficult topics.

He was a very moral man with a quiet voice, yet a sense of outrage for injustice. He overcame illness and adversities to travel to Africa and photograph Ebola. I remember him as a gentle soul with a courageous heart. He will be greatly missed.”

Social media:

Thursday evening, “Michel du Cille” was trending on Twitter, and many used their Facebook pages and other social media accounts to share their shock at the news and their memories. Among those were dozens of alumni, current students, and IU Journalism faculty and friends.

News Corps’ Raju Narisetti, MA’91, on Twitter:
“Am stunned, grief stricken. Fmr @washingtonpost colleague, @IUMediaSchool alum, the brilliant, gentle @michelducille 3x Pulitzer winner. RIP.”

Brian Spegele, BAJ’10, Wall Street Journal reporter in China, on Twitter:
“Sad to see another great journalist died in the field. Many of Michel du Cille’s photos are impossible to forget.”

Ben Weller, MA’08, freelance photographer in South Korea, on Facebook:
“Michel was the editor on one of my first freelance assignments for a major publication back in 2008. I didn’t do the best job, but he talked me through it on the phone and was so kind, patient and encouraging. His voice is in my head whenever I’m shooting. This is a sad day for photojournalism, and my thoughts are with his family and colleagues at The Washington Post.”

Photographer Melissa Farlow, BA’74, who was a co-panelist with du Cille at the 2011 Will Counts Memorial Lecture, on Facebook:
“I am so saddened to hear of my colleague Michel DuCille’s death. A gentle, good soul.”

Caitlin O’Hara, BAJ’14, on Twitter:
“du Cille spoke my senior year @iujournalism. Along with sharing funny stories of editing @idsnews, he stressed compassion for subjects. RIP.”

Washington Post intern Jessica Contrera, BAJ’14, on Twitter:
“Heartbroken over the news of Michel du Cille’s death. He went out of his way to be nice to me at IU and at the Post.”

Senior Ben Mikesell on Twitter:
“Saddened to hear 3x Pulitzer photographer Michel du Cille has passed away. I always loved seeing his images, and he will surely be missed.”

Design/marketing consultant Ron Reason, BA’85, on Twitter:
“RIP photojournalism legend @michelducille, taken while doing what you loved and making a difference in the world.”