Shooting in Color: Converge Media changing the look of sports media in Seattle

The Converge Media sports team has been blazing a trail for writers and photographers of Color around Seattle (Photo Jordan Somers)

Throughout 2022, Converge Media has been creating space for photographers and writers of color to cover Seattle sports. Photographers Liv Lyons, Quinton Branham, Frederick Byrdwell, Mat Bermudez, and ProofNThePlay have been changing the look of the photo wells at games around Seattle, capturing iconic moments such as the rise of Julio Rodriguez and the final game of Sue Bird. Their content has been shared across Converge Media platform, adding an important visual perspective to the work of sports writers Charles Hamaker and Bel Garcia.

Liv Lyons (center in PINES shirt) has led the way, blazing a trail as one of the few Black women to regularly photograph MLB games. Her work has been featured across Converge platforms this season and has inspired many others on our team.

The Converge Media photographers have grown along with the success of Converge’s sports show, Circling Seattle Sports. “We knew that if we were going to take Circling Seattle Sports to the next level in regards to reporting on all major and minor sports in Seattle that we needed to be intentional about bolstering our photo staff to cover as many games at as many stadiums as possible,” Converge Media CEO Omari Salisbury said. “At Converge we feel that it is our duty to create space for those in our community who are very talented by have never had access or opportunities,” said Salisbury.

Circling Seattle Sports which includes a weekly show on Mondays at 4 pm and also the blog is one of the fastest growing sports reporting platforms in the Seattle area in regards to dedicated coverage of major and minor sports. In the coming months look for CSS team coverage into pro-sports in Oregon which is aligned with the recent opening of Converge Media offices in the Rose City earlier this year.

For Liv Lyons, who is very much the rock of the photo team, the experience has been powerful and motivational. She’s grateful for the opportunity and excited to continue pushing.

“I found myself standing at the Terrace level before the gates had opened, flanked by a few folks I’d gotten to know very well over the past four months. The cracking sound of batting practice filled the air, and so did the excitement of getting together with other photographers from Converge to meet and celebrate one another. As an introvert, I was a little anxious to be in a group situation with some folks I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting yet—but as the other photographers arrived, there was a natural feeling of kinship that took over. We connected instantly, chopping it up about sports journalism and life. I’m not used to centering myself and allowing some kind of spotlight to fall on me as ‘one of the few’ of something is hard to own. Imposter syndrome and thoughts of tokenism creep in and start to create a shadow over the journey, but this crew reminded me that this space is hard-earned and that my skill has gotten me here.

The support I’ve gotten in the photo wells from folks whose work I’ve studied since college and the support I’ve gotten from the crew at Converge and Circling Seattle Sports fills my cup. With my first season of Mariners coverage under my belt, I have never felt so motivated and eager to continue this path. I’m here to do my best work, to grow, and to keep the door open for Black women and underrepresented folks who are longing to put their photographic skills to work in this industry.” - Liv Lyons

The Circling Seattle Sports team caught up at T-Mobile Park a few weeks back to reflect on some of their season highlights (Photos: Jordan Somers)