Photojournalists

Photojournalism started in the early 1920s with the development of new camera equipment that could be easily transported as news occurred. A growing market for photographically illustrated magazines revealed a population wanting news told through pictures—and also reflected a relatively low level of literacy among the general public. As World Wars I and II ravaged Europe and the rest of the world, reporters were either handed a camera or were accompanied by photographers to capture the gruesome and sometimes inspirational images of courage during combat.

In 1936, Life magazine was launched and quickly became one of the most popular vehicles for the photo essay, a news piece consisting mainly of photographs and their accompanying captions. Soon, however, photojournalists left the illustrated magazine market for news organizations catering to the larger newspapers and television networks. Less emphasis was placed on the photo essay; instead, photojournalists were more often asked to track celebrities or gather photos for newspaper advertising.

The recent digital revolution has changed photojournalism forever. Many papers have pared down their photography staff and purchase stock photos from photo agencies. Some smaller papers might even hand staff reporters digital cameras to illustrate their own stories. Still, photojournalists have a place in the working world, as their trained "eyes" for perfect shots will always be in demand.

Another recent development is the increasing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) by photographers to produce both photorealistic and artistic images, to automate image processing, and edit photographs. Although it is unethical for photojournalists to utilize generative AI to alter photographs because it undermines the credibility of photojournalism, some newsrooms allow its use to automate image processing or for other non-editing purposes. Some newsrooms ban the use of generative AI, while others have developed guidelines and policies for its appropriate use.