Samantha Clark
Samantha Clark is the Managing Photo Editor for Digital and Short Form Storytelling at National Geographic. She leads a dedicated team commissioning and curating compelling imagery for digital, print, and social platforms, overseeing visual narratives across daily stories, features, and multi-platform content.
With a professional background rooted in journalism and visual editing, Samantha combines creative storytelling with audience growth strategies informed by data. Her work expands the reach and impact of photography, ensuring National Geographic continues to captivate and inform diverse global audiences through powerful visuals.
Samantha regularly pitches and produces feature stories for National Geographic magazine, collaborating closely with photographers worldwide. Her editorial expertise has been recognised by prominent awards from the American Society of Magazine Editors, National Press Photographers Association, Pictures of the Year International, and Edward R. Murrow Awards. Samantha’s collaborations blend in-depth research, thoughtful curation, and visual creativity to deliver stories that resonate.
Before joining National Geographic, Samantha worked extensively within public media, serving as a visuals editor and reporter for NPR and KQED. She also contributed significantly to Pier 24 Photography in San Francisco, the largest exhibition space dedicated to photography in North America.
Her editorial journey began with a strong emphasis on science and environmental storytelling, where Samantha effectively navigated complex narratives by closely collaborating with photographers, designers, graphics editors, and cartographers. This comprehensive editorial approach enabled her to communicate nuanced topics clearly and effectively, earning her respect across visual journalism.
In addition to her editorial roles, Samantha actively contributes as a writer on photography and visual culture for publications including The Washington Post and Broccoli Magazine. Her thoughtful writing expands conversations around photographic practice, ethics, and storytelling. Holding a master’s degree in journalism from UC Berkeley, Samantha was recognised early for her talents by receiving the esteemed Jim Marshall Fellowship for Photojournalism. Her academic foundation, combined with professional experience in journalism, visual curation, and strategic storytelling, positions her uniquely as a thoughtful and influential voice in contemporary photography.