The crisis of photojournalism: rethinking the profession in a participatory media ecosystem

The economic crisis and the appearance of “citizen photojournalism” are the main challenges the professional practice of photojournalism has faced in recent years. The American Society of News Editors states that photojournalists (and visual journalists) are the professionals most affected by the cu...

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Main Authors: María Bella Palomo, Virginia Guerrero-García
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Navarra 2015-09-01
Series:Communication & Society (Formerly Comunicación y Sociedad)
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.unav.edu/index.php/communication-and-society/article/view/35940
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author María Bella Palomo
Virginia Guerrero-García
author_facet María Bella Palomo
Virginia Guerrero-García
author_sort María Bella Palomo
collection DOAJ
description The economic crisis and the appearance of “citizen photojournalism” are the main challenges the professional practice of photojournalism has faced in recent years. The American Society of News Editors states that photojournalists (and visual journalists) are the professionals most affected by the cuts in the media ecosystem. The digital revolution has converted citizens into potential creators of images of newsworthy events and the media invite audiences to participate by sending in their photographs for publication. Photojournalists no longer have exclusive control of news images. Are they in danger of extinction? Has participatory journalism devalued the job of photojournalist? Are graphic reporters opposed to audience participation? This research tries to discover how Spanish photojournalists are reacting in this participatory media context. To attain this goal, twelve in-depth interviews were held with recognized Spanish photojournalists who develop their activity at the local, regional, national and international levels, featuring, for example, graphic reporters Manu Brabo (Pulitzer Prize, 2013) and Daniel Pozo (National Photojournalism Prize, 2012). All of them argue that quality is expensive and that few citizens can compete with the technical knowledge and work tools of a professional photojournalist. One main conclusion can be drawn from an analysis of their replies: photojournalists do not feel threatened by citizen participation in the media. In fact, they show great generosity by considering that the images contributed by audiences should be economically remunerated. In contrast, they regard media managers as the real enemies
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spelling doaj.art-ebd846a1ec4b4766b1925f9d390441582022-12-21T21:26:31ZengUniversidad de NavarraCommunication & Society (Formerly Comunicación y Sociedad)2386-78762015-09-01284334610.15581/003.28.4.33-4835940The crisis of photojournalism: rethinking the profession in a participatory media ecosystemMaría Bella Palomo0Virginia Guerrero-García1University of Malaga. University of Malaga. The economic crisis and the appearance of “citizen photojournalism” are the main challenges the professional practice of photojournalism has faced in recent years. The American Society of News Editors states that photojournalists (and visual journalists) are the professionals most affected by the cuts in the media ecosystem. The digital revolution has converted citizens into potential creators of images of newsworthy events and the media invite audiences to participate by sending in their photographs for publication. Photojournalists no longer have exclusive control of news images. Are they in danger of extinction? Has participatory journalism devalued the job of photojournalist? Are graphic reporters opposed to audience participation? This research tries to discover how Spanish photojournalists are reacting in this participatory media context. To attain this goal, twelve in-depth interviews were held with recognized Spanish photojournalists who develop their activity at the local, regional, national and international levels, featuring, for example, graphic reporters Manu Brabo (Pulitzer Prize, 2013) and Daniel Pozo (National Photojournalism Prize, 2012). All of them argue that quality is expensive and that few citizens can compete with the technical knowledge and work tools of a professional photojournalist. One main conclusion can be drawn from an analysis of their replies: photojournalists do not feel threatened by citizen participation in the media. In fact, they show great generosity by considering that the images contributed by audiences should be economically remunerated. In contrast, they regard media managers as the real enemieshttps://revistas.unav.edu/index.php/communication-and-society/article/view/35940active audiencescrisisethicsmobile devicesparticipatory journalismphotojournalistugc
spellingShingle María Bella Palomo
Virginia Guerrero-García
The crisis of photojournalism: rethinking the profession in a participatory media ecosystem
Communication & Society (Formerly Comunicación y Sociedad)
active audiences
crisis
ethics
mobile devices
participatory journalism
photojournalist
ugc
title The crisis of photojournalism: rethinking the profession in a participatory media ecosystem
title_full The crisis of photojournalism: rethinking the profession in a participatory media ecosystem
title_fullStr The crisis of photojournalism: rethinking the profession in a participatory media ecosystem
title_full_unstemmed The crisis of photojournalism: rethinking the profession in a participatory media ecosystem
title_short The crisis of photojournalism: rethinking the profession in a participatory media ecosystem
title_sort crisis of photojournalism rethinking the profession in a participatory media ecosystem
topic active audiences
crisis
ethics
mobile devices
participatory journalism
photojournalist
ugc
url https://revistas.unav.edu/index.php/communication-and-society/article/view/35940
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