Sebastián Hidalgo is a photojournalist and reporter trained in civic newsrooms across Chicago. His work was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation for Local Reporting and considered by the Gennett Network for “setting the standard for community-led journalism.”

He has reported on issues ranging from the secret lives of teens working dangerous work shifts in Midwest factories to the lasting psychological effects of gentrification for mission-based newsrooms like ProPublica and City Bureau––a civic-oriented journalism lab in Chicago.

In 2019, he was among the inaugural local fellows at CatchLight and was part of a unique cohort of National Geographic Explorers and Nat Geo Photo mentors.

Today, he develops strategies to build sounder relationships with underserved communities for photojournalists as a resident at the Chicago Art Department–the largest residency program seeking to reimagine Justice in Chicago.

Hidalgo continues to freelance.

Permanent Collections:

  • The United States Library of Congress

  • The National Museum of Mexican Fine Art

  • Harvard Art Museum

Experiences:

  • Mental Health First Aid certified administrator

  • Dart Center — Journalist Trauma Support Network. Risk Training

  • Fellow and Team Leader at City Bureau, a civic journalism lab in Chicago

  • Mentee at the Advance Mentorship Program for Documentary Photography with photojournalists James Estrin and Ed Kashi

  • Mentee at the Documentary Photography Workshop with Former National Geographic vice-president Whitney Johnson

  • Fellow at The Chicago Reporter

  • Participants at The Center of Investigative Reporting.

  • Digital Producer at Wbez-Chicago.

  • Teaching Artist at Apple Creative Studios, Yollocali, and Cicero Independente.

Collections :

  • Permanent Collections at The Library of Congress

  • Permanent Collections at Harvard Art Museum

  • Permanent Collections at The National Museum of Mexican Fine Art 

Awards & Recognitions:

  • Contributing Photographer for a Pulitzer Prize-Winning Investigation for Local Reporting

  • Recognized as one of the New and Emerging Photographers in 2021 by The 30. 

  • Explorer Grant Recipient, National Geographic Society 

  • Winner for Best in Collaborative Journalism, Staying Close. 2020. Gannett Network

  • Winner for New Series, An American Suburb, 2018. 2019. Edward R. Murrow Award 

  • Winner for Best of Online Photography, City Bureau Portfolio. 2018. Peter Lisagor Award 

  • Winner for Best of Photography, Restorative Justice. 2017. Peter Lisagor Award

  • Recognized as one of 12 Emerging You Should Know by The New York Times - Lens. 2018

  • Recognized as one of 10 Latino Photographers Documenting Underrepresented Communities by Remezcla. 2018

  • Featured in the ‘What Works’ series highlighting City Bureau by Politico

  • Featured in A photographer documents his changing community by WTTW-Chicago. 2018

Frequent Contributor:

The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, USAToday, ProPublica, and Injustice Watch