Today?s thirst for news images at the click of a mouse does not sound the death knell for the photojournalist keen to illustrate the story behind the headline, claims Getty Images.
?In a world dominated by the soundbite, where celebrity gossip occupies more column inches than myriad world conflicts ? and the attention span of many consumers is measured in seconds ? questioning the death of photojournalism is understandable,? writes Getty?s managing editor of news, Hugh Pinney.
Pinney points out that in today?s news driven world, ?immediacy? often takes precedence over ?content?.
He claimed: ?Furthermore, news publications are facing ever-increasing financial pressures, encouraging editors to favour the easy quick win over the more speculative news assignments.?
Though he points out that a single image can be used through the day to illustrate a rolling news story ? such as on TV or online ? Pinney remains positive about the future for photojournalism.
?New media technology is allowing and encouraging photographers to shoot photo stories, to produce slide-shows with a narrative ? a dream for most news photographers.
?In an era where most media is disposable, great photojournalism has longevity.?
He asserts that today?s photojournalists arguably have a greater opportunity to showcase their work than in the past. ?In many respects, great photojournalism is the perfect foil for the YouTube era ? visually compelling but providing insight and depth, rather than the more instant gratification constantly on offer elsewhere.?
Pinney made the comments in a Getty brochure celebrating the life of famed publication Picture Post.
Picture credit: Tom Stoddart/Getty Images
