The State of Photojournalism

[Jim Bryant]

Here's a great NY Times article about the state of photojournalism.
For Photographers, the Image of a Shrinking Path - NYTimes.com

Too true.

However, individuals aside. I think the availability of cheap cameras will only serve to exponentially enhance photography as a whole.

~Eric

[Swisstony10]

I contacted my local paper recently, to ask if they regularly/ever used freelancers, or if they only used staffers (because to be honest, the standard of quite a few of the pictures that accompany their articles are quite shocking). They told me that they have a single staff photog, and never use freelancers. They did say that if I wanted to send in pictures, they'd use them if they were any good, but weren't in a financial position to pay. I explained that I was looking for actual work, so thanks, but no thanks.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to an emergency public meeting which was arranged by a local action group to save a local attraction which the council is in the process of sidelining so that they can effectively close it and sell the historic building it's in to developers. Just on the off-chance that it might be an event worth documenting, I took my camera with me and got pictures of the speakers at the meeting, and of the public protest which followed it, where a large group of people stood in the High Street with placards and notices, handed out leaflets explaining the situation to passers-by, and collected signatures on a petition.

I'd noticed that there was a journo from the local paper at the meeting, so when the speakers had finished, I approached and asked if they'd had a photog with them. The journo explained that the paper's staffer covers sporting events on a Saturday, so she'd brought her P&S with her. I explained my situation, and said that (since I feel quite strongly about the issue in question) they'd be welcome to use my pictures for the story if they wanted. The journo didn't have a card with her email address on, so I gave her my business card and said that if she dropped me an email, I'd send her a selection of shots right back, and that I wasn't bothered about being paid for these because I understand the paper's financial situation and because I strongly support the action group's aim (plus I figured it can't hurt to build a bit of goodwill with the local paper, since you never know when the current staffer's going to retire/give up/move on).

Did I hear from said journo? Nope, not a sausage. And later that week, the story appeared on the front page. I probably don't need to tell you what the standard of the big front-page picture that accompanied it was, do I?

At least now I know that if I need anything covered by the paper and I want a half-decent picture to go with it, I need to make sure it happens during the week, since they don't have a photographer covering anything other than local-league football (soccer - I'm a Brit) on a weekend...

Russ

It's a great time to be an amateur/hobbyist. It's really easy to make a few bucks here and there as a photographer, which helps pay for the hobby.

Making a career out of it is much harder, and I think you really have to diversify if you're going to make it. That means shooting anything and everything...weddings, portraits, stock, and even freelancing for the paper. If you have enough of these, I think you can make it...but it's going to be a lot of long and odd hours.

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by Swisstony10

A couple of weeks ago, I went to an emergency public meeting which was arranged by a local action group to save a local attraction which the council is in the process of sidelining so that they can effectively close it and sell the historic building it's in to developers. Just on the off-chance that it might be an event worth documenting, I took my camera with me and got pictures of the speakers at the meeting, and of the public protest which followed it, where a large group of people stood in the High Street with placards and notices, handed out leaflets explaining the situation to passers-by, and collected signatures on a petition.

Did you consider contacting the action group? They might be interested in using your photos for their own marketing. If they're a nonprofit and don't have the budget to pay you, you may be able to offer it as "services in kind" and write off your time as a donation.

Local newspapers are a shriveling market; if they're laying off their reporters and editors, how do you expect them to hire/pay photographers? If that's the kind of work you want to do, though, you may have to suck it up and give them some images, that you can then use as tearsheets. Think of it as the equivalent of "working your way up from the mailroom."

If you like documentary/journalistic photography, you may be better off launching your own projects and trying to leverage them into gallery showings, full "photoessays", grant applications, etc., instead of trying to sell a shot or two to a paper. The market is changing, not dying. Those who can adapt will survive.

[BCampbell]

PS, NYT is running a followup to the artice:

Pros and Amateurs Debate: Is Photography in Trouble? - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com

[cherrygirl]

Originally Posted by Swisstony10

I

I'd noticed that there was a journo from the local paper at the meeting, so when the speakers had finished, I approached and asked if they'd had a photog with them. The journo explained that the paper's staffer covers sporting events on a Saturday, so she'd brought her P&S with her. I explained my situation, and said that (since I feel quite strongly about the issue in question) they'd be welcome to use my pictures for the story if they wanted. The journo didn't have a card with her email address on, so I gave her my business card and said that if she dropped me an email, I'd send her a selection of shots right back, and that I wasn't bothered about being paid for these because I understand the paper's financial situation and because I strongly support the action group's aim (plus I figured it can't hurt to build a bit of goodwill with the local paper, since you never know when the current staffer's going to retire/give up/move on).

Did I hear from said journo? Nope, not a sausage. And later that week, the story appeared on the front page. I probably don't need to tell you what the standard of the big front-page picture that accompanied it was, do I? ;

Russ

As a reporter and a photojournalist, the reporter would have absolutely no say so in what submitted photos could and would be used. Although you offered your images for free, the paper would rather run a photo taken by a staff member that have to worry about a photo release from you or worry about you coming back and wanting to be paid at a later date. Editors are the most skeptical people in the world!!!

I am the only staff photographer at the paper I work at. When we had cut backs, they did away with our freelance photographers and created the position of photographer and asked me to do it...since they knew I did photography. However, I still report for them too. Photos are very important for our paper (I'm lucky) so they put a big emphasis on it and the paper has purchase a good deal of photography equipment.

Unfortunately at many papers, to save money, have the reporters carry cameras and just shoot a few photos after they interview. Whether you are shooting a $100 camera or a $5000, all the images look the same in newsprint...muddy.

But one thing papers are doing more of is showcasing photos on their websites with the stories and in slideshows. I don't think it is a dying art it is just really tough to get in the industry with so many photographers out there. Plus...newspapers are more likely to hire a photographer if they have skills as a reporter too.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Too true.

However, individuals aside. I think the availability of cheap cameras will only serve to exponentially enhance photography as a whole.

~Eric

That's true. It's opened the gates to some very good artistic individuals who are fine photographers in their own rights.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by BCampbell

PS, NYT is running a followup to the artice:

Pros and Amateurs Debate: Is Photography in Trouble? - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com

Yup..........some great ongoing debates. But still.....if you want professional results hire a pro, not a friend who owns a dSLR.

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Yup..........some great ongoing debates. But still.....if you want professional results hire a pro, not a friend who owns a dSLR.

Or, if you want to continue being a pro, learn to do more than just take pretty pictures.