Rick Wiley

Wiley started his career as a staff photographer at the Tucson Citizen in 1988, after an internship at the Mesa Tribune and working as an editorial freelance photographer in the Phoenix area. While working at the Tucson Citizen, he covered University of Arizona sports extensively, including the 1994 NCAA Final Four, and covered news along the U.S.-Mexico border. In 1995, he was hired as the photo and graphics editor at the East Valley Tribune, leading photographers and graphic artists covering the rapidly expanding suburbs east of Phoenix, events in Phoenix and around the state. Coverage highlights included: a terrorist attack on an Amtrak train, the Phoenix Suns and NBA Playoffs, ASU Sun Devils and the Rose Bowl, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the 2001 World Series, the Fiesta Bowl National Championship, Arizona's first Super Bowl, the Rodeo-Chediski Fire, and news, features, fashion, and high school sports throughout the Phoenix area.

In 2004, Wiley became director of photography at the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson. He helped guide three projects on U.S.-Mexico border issues, extensive coverage of University of Arizona sports, the Wallow Fire, and several other large wildfires in Southern Arizona, as well as the 2011 mass shooting at a local Safeway. He also edited photos and photographed the Bighorn Fire in 2020, and sports and breaking news throughout the Tucson area.

Wiley's photo awards include first place for news photography from the Arizona Newspapers Association in 2022, first place in sports photography from the Arizona Press Club in 2004, as well as awards from the National Press Photographers Association, Society for News Design and additional awards from the state ANA and Press Club.

Under his direction, Wiley's photo staffs have won state and national awards, including several awards for Arizona Photographer of the Year and NPPA Regional Photographer of the Year.

Wiley has a bachelor’s in journalism from Arizona State University.

Read his Q-and-A here.