Photojournalism is a crucial branch of journalism that is used to help shape and influence public perception and opinion. Unlike photography, it is not concerned with the most aesthetically pleasing imagery. Photojournalism is about capturing the truth and reporting issues with integrity.
Photojournalism is by definition the practice of communicating news to the public through photographic media.
Photojournalism
Photojournalists can choose to work in any specialist field such as sports, nature or news. They will then tell a story visually through a collection of photographs.
Photographs can convey a message or conjure up an emotion in an instant rather than its context becoming lost amongst a sea of words. It helps to capture completely unique and one-off events so that they are never lost over the passage of time.
Photojournalism is particularly useful when documenting or reporting on historical events, and powerful imagery can be used in things such as climate disasters and violations of human rights to convey the severity and seriousness of the subject matter.
Photojournalism is also an ethical practice that promotes honesty and truth. Visual reporting assists with informing the general public and helping to ensure that people or organisations are held accountable for their actions.
Photojournalists should have their own portfolio of completed work which showcases how they can compose images, use effective lighting, colour correct images and edit. This is a useful and organised way of presenting previous work to potential employers.
Studying Journalism
There are many routes of entry into photojournalism, but most employers prefer an undergraduate qualification. This will equip you with the necessary practical skills as well as an industry-recognised standard of education and training. Students will learn all of the necessary skills to write, produce and edit content in a chosen specialist field, including photojournalism.
For examples of journalism courses, visit School of Journalism.
With training that has a proven track record for excellence and collaboration with news organisations, together with a strong portfolio, a budding photojournalist can kick-start their career with and advantage over other applicants.