“The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.”
– Mary Baker Eddy, Founder of the Christian Science Monitor
Photographer Melanie Stetson Freeman on assignment on "Big Momma" dune in Sossusvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia, July 22, 2023.Melanie Stetson Freeman, with permission
With the rise of the internet, social media platforms, and Artificial Intelligence, disinformation has never been so easily disseminated or so devastating. Impartial, nonpartisan journalism has perhaps never been more vital, and it lies at the heart of photojournalist Melanie Stetson Freeman’s work. Stetson Freeman has worked at The Christian Science Monitor, a Boston-based news outlet founded in 1908 by pioneering Christian leader Mary Baker Eddy, for almost 42 years. During that time, she’s traveled to more than 80 countries, capturing the lives and stories of remarkable people.
Stetson Freeman’s journey as a photographer started somewhat unconventionally. “When I was a kid, I wasn’t allowed to have any pets,” she told MY HERO, “But I just loved cats and dogs. So, I started photographing them.” Once she’d managed to capture all the pets in her neighborhood, she moved on to people. She explored different aspects of photography throughout high school and college, taking various classes and working on the yearbook, before undertaking a Master of Arts in photojournalism from the University of Missouri, Columbia. From there, she worked for the Simi Valley Enterprise in California, The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Orange County Register in Santa Ana, California, before taking on the role of staff photographer at the Monitor in 1985.
“It’s a real honor to work [at the Monitor],” Stetson Freeman explained. “I've dedicated my career to visual journalism, and it's more important now than ever to have unbiased sources who have professional writers, photographers, and editors giving you the news.” The Monitor was founded to deliver balanced, factual news amid the rise of yellow journalism, and they have focused on doing so since. “We need to hear both sides,” said Stetson Freeman. “We need to come together in the middle. We need to solve problems. That's what the Monitor is all about, and that's why I've been here so long.”
The Monitor not only strives to share facts but also to explore the reasons behind societal shifts and champion the values needed for the betterment of humanity. While these values can be demonstrable in big, global stories, oftentimes, they are found within the stories of individuals making meaningful change within their communities. One of Stetson Freeman’s most poignant projects was a documentary photo project about Hannah, an orphan in Russia who was adopted into a family here in the United States. Stetson Freeman first met the family just north of Boston, before traveling to Russia with them about a month later to meet Hannah. “I remember following her down the hallway as she was going to meet them,” Stetson Freeman said. “She was fearless. It was amazing.”
Documenting lives around the world, although inspiring, is not without its challenges. In 2002, at a time of political unrest, Stetson Freeman traveled to Afghanistan. “Being there as a woman was really tough,” she explained. “Even being covered and having a scarf in a vehicle, I would get stared out and could never walk alone anywhere. It was incredibly difficult.” Even in some of the most demanding corners of the world, Stetson Freeman has found and captured the very best and most beautiful stories humanity has to offer. Ten years after her first visit, Stetson Freeman returned to Afghanistan on an assignment about a group of women learning various trades such as raising chickens to make a living for themselves. She told MY HERO:
I had a male translator and, when we walked in, all the women put their burqas back on because there was a man in the room. When I started asking questions, they were so excited to answer that they threw their burqas back and were leaning forward to answer my questions. It was it was wonderful.
After 40 years at the Monitor, Stetson Freeman is keen to continue. “I love this work so much. It just fills my soul. And to be creative and telling stories and meeting people, traveling, it's everything I love,” she explained.
Melanie Stetson Freeman’s Tips for Aspiring Photographers:
· Take lots and lots of photos! You have to really love this to make a living from it.
· Study other photographers' work that you admire.
· Over time, try to create a style that is all yours.
· Become a storyteller with your photos. Whether you want to shoot portraits and weddings, or editorial images, let your images reflect who these people are.
View Hannah's journey: A Russian adoption by Melanie Stetson Freeman here.
Explore a selection of Melanie’s work:
· https://www.csmonitor.com/World/2025/1218/favorite-photos-2025-melanie-stetson-freeman
· https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2022/0128/In-Pictures-Sea-turtle-rescuers-race-against-cold
· https://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/2025/0404/wild-animal-sanctuary-colorado
· https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2026/0602/The-surf-is-swell-in-Cote-d-Ivoire
Listen to a podcast about Melanie’s work here.
Page created on 9/14/2026 5:38:33 PM
Last edited 9/15/2026 10:20:16 AM
