Why Photojournalism Matters

Article # 7 Review
Kenneth Irby’s editorial regarding the value of photojournalism began much like a good photo: he gives the reader a primary focus--which in this article is the shared opinions of a cab driver whom he spent time with while in Minneapolis.

 

The cabbie, Amir, expresses his own appreciation for photojournalists--and the service they perform in visually presenting and interpreting the news. Along with this, Irby shares the opposite side of the appreciation spectrum, and points out frustrations held by many photographers—that they are not valued in the workplace.

 

Irby sums up his comments regarding newsroom politics by listing five priorities of equal importance to both photojournalists and their co-workers in the newsroom:

 

1. Acknowledge that photojournalists are an integral part of the team.

2. Content is key in photojournalism, and it should have primary importance over aesthetic issues.

3. Ethics remains the quantifier in establishing the essential benchmarks of an image.

4. Underscore the importance of staying on the leading edge of photojournalism technology.

5. Understand the importance of diversity in photojournalism and the avoidance of stereotyping.