Photo Editor
Under the watchful eye of photo editor Greg Dorsett, photojournalism took center stage in the pages of the Muskegon Chronicle. A fierce proponent of visual storytelling, Dorsett believed in the power of photography. He supported, directed and fought for impactful photography that reflected the community and told important stories.
Born in Missouri in 1948, Dorsett attended Kansas State College, where he received a degree in biology. With the Vietnam War raging, Dorsett enlisted in the United States Marines Corp. He returned home to Kansas City in 1973 to work for a few years before his passion for journalism led him to the University of Missouri.
After graduation, he joined the staff of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel and won numerous state and national photography awards including runner-up Indiana Photographer of the Year in 1977.
In 1980, Dorsett became a photographer at the Muskegon Chronicle. Within a few years he was made chief photographer and then photo editor.
Dorsett knew great photography can move and inform people, and he provided unwavering support for photographers to create that type of work. He also championed dynamic photo display resulting in the Michigan Press Photographers Association awarding him Photo Editor of the Year awards in 1990 and 1991. He won numerous Best Use of Photography awards from both the Michigan and national press photographer associations.
The Muskegon Chronicle became a coveted internship for aspiring photojournalists. Dorsett possessed a gift for seeing potential and passion – giving young photographers a chance to work in an environment that valued documentary photography. He inspired and mentored dozens of photographers.
Dorsett died in October 2021. His legacy is dozens of photographers and editors doing great work all over this country because of the lessons they learned from that tough but kind editor in that little lakeshore town in west Michigan.