Photojournalist

What an Photojournalist Does

Photojournalists, sometimes referred to as news photographers, are responsible for taking photographs of newsworthy people, places and events either assigned to them by their editor or taken at the discretion of the photographer. These photographs are then published in a newspaper, magazine, or shown on TV. Most photographs accompany an article to enhance the story and photojournalist are required to provide a wide selection of different photo options to present to the editor, varying in angles and sizes. Most images must be strong enough to stand on their own, as some editors like for these types of photos to be published as photo essays. While a photojournalist does not have to be a news reporter per say, they do have to possess some writing and reporting skills because they are often required to write their own captions or photo essays. This means being able to identify proper names and locations. Working conditions are usually intense, consisting of long, irregular hours. And since some things are not planned, like a natural disaster, photojournalist must be available to work at the drop of a hat. Some photographers work in uncomfortable and dangerous environments, depending on the subject they need to shoot. They are usually only in the news office to upload photos and are constantly on the go, carrying their heavy camera equipment along with them.

How to Become an Photojournalist

While some photojournalists possess a special gift and can take exceptional photos without any formal training, most entry level positions for a newspaper or TV station usually require a bachelor's degree in journalism photography. A number of public and private colleges, universities and other higher education institutions offer courses in photography. Beginner level courses will generally teach students about photography equipment, processes, and techniques. While more advanced courses may require students to execute certain assignments that can possibly be great samples to be placed in a student's portfolio, it's important that students build up their work experience proving they can handle strict and intense deadlines by either working for their school paper or magazine. Especially for those who do not have a photojournalism degree or want to be a freelance photographer, gaining as much experience outside of class assignments will prove very beneficial when applying to entry level jobs. Advancement opportunities may include becoming Picture Editor of a newspaper or magazine, or moving on to teach photography at technical schools, film schools, or universities.

Career Outlook for an Photojournalist

While many career opportunities for print journalists are declining, employment growth for photojournalists on the other hand is expected to increase by 12 percent over the course of the 2008-18 decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is because most photographers are accustomed with dealing with digital imaging and therefore do not have to make a huge transition to an online publication for example. But the Bureau warns that this area of photography is exceptionally competitive as the number of people interested in photojournalism usually outweighs the number of jobs available. It may also be harder to find salaried positions since more companies are hiring contract or freelance photographers to execute assignments, the Bureau says. According to the Bureau, photographers held about 152,000 jobs in 2008 (the most recent statistics available). While more than half the photographers were self-employed, the most salaried positions were for newspapers and magazines. The median annual wage of salaried photographers was $29,440 in May 2008.