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None of the people, young and old, who hit me up about breaking into photojournalism understand that there is a big difference between being a photojournalist and being a storytelling photographer.
Lots of people think they want to be a photojournalist, but what they really want is to engage with people and tell stories through photography. There are important distinctions.
A photojournalist is a JOURNALIST. Our duty is to inform the public. Journalists are public servants. Per @AmPress, its obligation is to the truth & its ultimate loyalty is to citizens. Verification and independence are guiding principles.
Photojournalists are bound by ethics. That means photographically, we are creatively limited. We don't get to play around in photoshop or set up the perfect shot or ask someone to repeat an action. There's an art to photojournalism but it is NOT ART.
The pitfalls are manifold. It's a toxic & exploitative industry. It is inherently dangerous. It is not a financially sustainable career.
You can be a photographer who gets to do all of the stuff we love about photojournalism without ANY of the pitfalls or limitations. You just won’t be a journalist. And that’s ok. The journalism thing is a calling and requires great personal sacrifice. It shouldn’t, but it does.
There are lots of ways to use photography to tell stories and celebrate humanity or point out problems. Lots of brands and companies seek this kind of photography out. You can work for an NGO or a university if you’re not into the whole corporate thing.
But people need to know how fraught journalism is. They need to go in with their eyes wide open. It’s not a matter of if journalism will damage you, it’s a matter of when.
I was always going to be a public servant. I studied international relations in college with the intention of becoming a diplomat and working on global security issues like nuclear nonproliferation.
I chose journalism because I saw a way to take my public service to another level- beyond U.S. interests. I don’t regret my decision, but my life is far less comfortable and safe for it.
This is all to say- if you still want to be a photojournalist after reading and UNDERSTANDING the implications of everything I just said, we can use all the right-minded folks we can get. But be honest with yourself about what you REALLY want to do and be as a photographer.
