WHAT IS PHOTOJOURNALISM

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Photojournalism as the job or activity of using photographs to report news stories in newspapers and magazines. Freelance photographer Antonin Kratochvil distinguished photojournalism from documentary photography in that the photos are taken in the instant they happen whereas documentary photography allows more time to capture images that depict daily life.

Photojournalists make a living by selling photos and stories to newspapers, magazines and photography agencies. Antonin Kratochvil has made a living by selling his photos to the Museum of Natural History, Fortune Magazine and he is a founding member of the VII Photo Agency.

The National Press Photographers Association is a professional organization that works to protect and promote the integrity of photojournalism. A professional membership with this organization costs $110 annually and provides members with information about the photojournalism business. The NPPA member has access to job forums, a lobby group to protect photojournalist’s rights, discounts on third party vendors and demonstrates that the members hold themselves to a code of ethics in their work.

Photo agencies, such as; VII, Redux Pictures and Reuters collect photos from around the world and sell them to news outlets.

With the advent of the 35mm camera in the late 1920’s photojournalism began its golden age, which lasted until the 1950’s when television became popular. Some famous photographers from the golden age of photojournalism are Gordon Parks, Margaret Bourke-White and Carl Mydans, who all worked for Life Magazine at one time.

Contemporary photojournalism publications that exist today survive online and in magazine form, such as The New York Times and national geographic. A contemporary photojournalist I would like to emulate is Mary Ellen Mark, she has been shooting for profit since the 1960’s.