Are “amateurs” replacing the professional photojournalists?
In a recent article in the U.S. magazine Columbia Journalism Review, the author Alissa Quart discussed the changing nature of photojournalism. The “rise of the amateur photographer” and the “ubiquity of camera phones” and the like – or what she calls “citizen photojournalism” – have drastically changed the way images tell stories, she said. Though photos abound and are easy for journalists and news agencies to access and use for low costs, Quart is worried that professional photographers are being replaced by amateur photographers, who “likely [are] not developing a story or developing the kind of intimacy with their subjects that brings revelation.” “I am optimistic about the future of photojournalism,” she said, “but not of the photojournalism I most admire.” What do you think? How do amateur and professional photojournalism compare? Do we need both? How can professional photojournalism be preserved? IJNet would like to hear your opinion. Join the discussion by clicking on “Add a Com
