Photojournalism is an important aspect in the field of journalism, and some may even argue that it is an art form. Not to quote that old cliche saying, but a picture is worth a thousand words.
It is important to realize that a journalist may be able to write a brilliant article that is supported by a bundle of evidence, eloquently worded, and published on the front page of the newspaper, but it does not have the same power of a simple photograph. The day after that article is published, no one will remember it. It will continue to live in the newspaper’s archives, but it will never see the light of day again. On the other hand, a photograph will continue to live on days after it is published. With all sorts of media agencies exchanging materials, a photograph may appear on a number of television news broadcasts, and a variety of new websites. The same photograph can be seen on CNN and on a Twitter account within a matter of days, but it cannot be said that an article has the same ability.
If a photograph is truly amazing, it can still radiate the same power and energy as the day it was taken to years later. A photograph can do many more things than an article can. A photograph can be a symbol; a symbol for a generation, a symbol for an event, a symbol for a mood. One article is not capable of doing all of those things while still being able to reach a large audience. That is another incredible thing about photographs- they can be viewed by an unimaginable number of people and create a mood instantly. An article does not have the same power. Moreover, a photograph can be shared around the world without worrying about different languages and translations, whereas the point of an article can get lost in the translation.
However, a photograph cannot always be as reliable as an article. One knows that an article from the New York Times or the Washington Post can be trusted. A photograph may surface from the Internet, and without knowing the source, it is extremely difficult to determine if it is credible. Also, a photograph can be interpreted, but an article is as a black and white as the ink and paper it was printed with.
Photojournalism and print go hand in hand though. Together, they create the ultimate experience for the reader, and one’s appetite for news is fed and full with an article and photograph working in harmony.
