Photo Journalism and Communication Technology

Photo journalism is a particular form of journalism (the collecting, editing, and presenting of news material for publication or broadcast) that creates images in order to tell a news story.  It is now usually understood to refer only to still images, and in some cases to video used in broadcast journalism.  Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography.  A photo-journalist should not be taken to mean a photographer who can write as well as take pictures.  He is a photographer who is able to tell a story with pictures.  Photographs reveal as well as inform.  They let us live with people different from ourselves, and experience events half a world away.  Pictures extend our reach, allowing us to see events that have passed into history, to travel to places we will never visit and to experience the emotions of others.  Pictures communicate feelings, set moods.  A good picture is first a truthful portrayal of an event.  Photo journalism affords an opportunity to serve the public that is equaled by few other vocations and all members of the profession should strive by example and influence to maintain high standards of ethical conduct free of mercenary considerations of any kind.