Fritz Nordengren
Documentary Storyteller | Fritz Nordengren
Des Moines, Iowa Area, IA, UNITED STATES
A storyteller blending journalism, public health, and fiction, creating impactful works on healthcare and personal journeys.
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Biography
F.R. “Fritz” Nordengren is a versatile storyteller and multimedia producer with a rich background in journalism, photography, and public health.
Starting his career as a teenage journalism student with a 35mm camera, he quickly gained commercial assignments and photographed high-profile figures like Meat Loaf, Harry Chapin, and comedian Gabe Kaplan.
Over the years, his work appeared in major outlets like the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Dotdash Meredith, earning recognition from the National Press Photographers Association and the American Marketing Association.
Fritz's primary focus is documentary storytelling, particularly in the realm of healthcare and health disparities. Drawing on his academic background in public health, he works with NGOs to highlight healthcare access issues, capturing stories through photography and video that resonate with those in a position to create change.
His writing also spans creative and personal works. His first novel, Concealed: The Book of Joshua, began as a NaNoWriMo project and has since garnered over 7,000 downloads and sales.
His second book, Kolby Rae, is a quasi-sequel set in Nashville, following a country music artist.
Fritz's memoir, Every Step is Gift: Letters to my Children from the Camino de Santiago, reflects on his 620-mile pilgrimage across Spain in 2013. The book achieved notable success, reaching Amazon's top 10 in multiple categories and maintaining strong sales for over four years.
In addition to his writing, Fritz has also documented his 2016 Camino walk through a photo story. His career demonstrates a blend of creativity, social impact, and personal reflection, with a strong emphasis on storytelling across multiple media formats.
Industry Expertise (3)
Publishing
Writing and Editing
Media - Online
Areas of Expertise (10)
International Travel Health
Speaking Engagements
Documentary Photography
Coaching
Teaching
Digital Storytelling
Nonprofit Leadership
Photography
Documentary Development and Producing
Content Strategy and Development
Accomplishments (1)
Behind the Viewfinder - A Year in the life of Photojournalism (professional)
An award winning pioneering web documentary showcasing photojournalists telling the daily behind the scenes stories of their work. Recognized by USA Today and the National Press Photographers Association.
Education (2)
Iowa State University: Journalism and Mass Communication, Video Production 1984
Des Moines University: MPH, Public Health
Links (1)
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
- Author Appearance
Social