Photojournalism

The prevalence of photos in newspapers has drastically changed in the past decades. From only text covered front pages of the NY Times, to ones today full of photography, the current era has shifted visually. In 2020, it would seem odd for a front page of any daily paper to not have a photo on it. For us, photos tell the stories when people seem to be reading far less than before. 

Photojournalism has become ever more enticing during the internet and social media age. It’s nearly impossible for a post to gain popularity without a photo accompanying it, especially for news stations. Photography has surely changed the game for news. It adds a more personal component than just text alone can accomplish. 

Professor Charley Steed highlighted the importance of photography and its impact on the news cycle today. Photographers also have the duty of telling a narrative truthfully, just as journalists do in print. With every editing application today, it’s easy to manipulate a photo to convey almost any sort of message one wants. The task for photographers is to not over-edit photos that are for a news piece. Excessive editing can ruin the credibility of that photo and the news source itself. 

Steed had some basic tips for photographers seeking to tell a truthful story through visuals. Steed noted that you don’t always get the photo you “want”, but should always go for the photo you “need”. It is frowned upon to stage a photo, every snap should be taken as if one was blended into the background.

Another tip Steed added was to watch for the rule of thirds and depth in photos. These are easy ways to make pictures visually appealing. Lastly, Steed touched on ethics and rights. He mentioned invasion of privacy, and how to go about taking photos at public versus private places. Knowing one’s rights as a photographer and journalist is vital.