“Are Photojournalists Still Relevant? Why?”
Technology advancement and society’s changing behavior in digital era encourages people to question about the future of photojournalists. While there are some doubts about the role of photojournalists — since everyone holds a camera and able to produce images — I assure that photojournalists still relevant in this era, especially to serve public interest.
There are some reasons why photojournalists play an importance role in the 21st century. Firstly, photojournalists apply code of ethics as the foundation of their works. It cannot be denied that technology is always growing advance. Whatever technology changes occur, photojournalists code of ethics persists and it distinguishes photojournalists’ work. Through code of ethics, values, and norms, photojournalists are being able to provide an accurate and comprehensive representation of their subjects.
Secondly, photojournalists are willing to put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation, including war and natural disasters. While citizen photojournalists often focus on their specific interest area, professional photojournalists are willing to take pictures in tough and challenging conditions. Photojournalists risk their lives to do so because public interest is their main interests. In addition, images that were taken by photojournalists changed public opinion and mobilized community. Series of pictures about student movement to rally against the legislation that reduces the authority of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) that took place in Gejayan, Yogyakarta, on 23 September 2019, for example, has encouraged other major cities to do the same, including in the capital city of Jakarta, Indonesia.
As the conclusion, despite many changes in the society’s behavior as the result of technology advancement, I believe that photojournalists still relevant. However, while citizen photojournalists can indeed produce images since they are the main witnesses of the occurrence, photojournalists should be able to compose a whole context of the story with their skills, their advancement in technology, network, and of course code of ethics.
— Denty Piawai Nastitie —
A journalist of Kompas daily, Jakarta, Indonesia
Student of Diploma in Visual Journalism — The Asian Center for Journalism at the Ateneo de Manila University)
References:
Tara Buehner Mortensen & Ana Keshelashvili (2013) If Everyone with a Camera Can Do This, Then What? Professional Photojournalists’ Sense of Professional Threat in the Face of Citizen Photojournalism, Visual Communication Quarterly, 20:3, 144–158, DOI: 10.1080/15551393.2013.820587
Adrian Hadland, Paul Lambert & David Campbell (2016) The Future of Professional Photojournalism, Journalism Practice, 10:7, 820–832, DOI: 10.1080/17512786.2016.1163236
