John Strickler began working for The Mercury in 1974 as a copyboy in the newsroom and learned to use a camera on the job. He was promoted to full-time staff photographer in January 1976, and was named photo supervisor in October 1989. During the 1990s, Strickler was instrumental with former editor Walt Herring in converting from black-and-white photography to color and in upgrading technology. The process began in 1993 with a Fuji color film processor and Nikon film scanner, and continued to January 1996, when the days of hand-developing film in tanks and tray-printing came to an end. Strickler was also involved in upgrading to full pagination of The Mercury in August 1996, and supervised the conversion to digital photography, ending the use of color film, in 2001. But first and foremost, Strickler is a newsman who thrives on recording events of his hometown and the people who live here. In 1987, he traveled to San Francisco with the Pottstown High School band for the 50th anniversary of the Golden Gate bridge. He went to Washington, D.C., with Vietnam veterans and Gold Star mothers, covered a Live Aid concert and Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, reported on the making of Marines at Parris Island, and captured the Pottstown PAL Patriots as they played in a Pop Warner National Championship tournament in Orlando, Fla. Strickler has won numerous state and national awards for his work. His favorite subject to photograph: people with American flags.


Since September 1986, staff photographer Kevin Hoffman has been “the eyes” of The Mercury at countless news scenes. His work has ranged from the devastation wrought by tornadoes in Limerick to the return of Norristown native Joseph Cicippio after he was released from a long captivity in Beirut. Hoffman traveled to Okla-homa City in the aftermath of the bombings there for a special report on victims’ rights. But he is best known for his work closer to home, covering the drama of news and the emotional impact on people of the Pottstown area. “I have witnessed many walks of life, both good and bad, and I have seen firsthand joy and happiness,” he said, of his years at The Mercury. “I also have witnessed the sorrow and grief of life’s horrific tragedies. The experiences I have documented have made me appreciate what life has to offer.” During his two decades at the paper, the craft has changed from black-and-white to color, from film to digital. Hoffman said starting “as a black-and-white shooter taught me to be a better photographer.” He has won numerous state and national awards, most notably the 1999 Photo of the Year award from Editor and Publisher for a picture of a woman fleeing from a burning building. His work has been featured in numerous national publications, including the cover of the National Firefighters Association calendar. When not shooting the news, he enjoys photographing saltwater fishing and boating scenes.

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