fbluhm Loc: San Antonio, TX

As someone who had been working as a photojournalist since Vietnam, I'd like a clarification on what you mean by "a photojournalist trying to do their own photos which is most times not a good idea." Just curious. Thanks.

Leitz Loc: Solms

Yes.
No.

anotherview Loc: California

I notice of late the product of photojournalists improving and appearing more often at the top of a news Web page for a dramatic, interesting lead-in to the news story. The photo there compels the eye and the attention of the viewer, inducing him or her to read the text below it. Photography lives.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

I'm not talking on a national or international level like that. I'm discussing someone at a regional or local level where they are actually a seasoned writer but take some snapshots to illustrate articles. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a small-time writer go out with the "office camera" and try to shoot with it for their article although they never touched the camera before.

There are plenty of examples online of newspaper articles with photos of people with trees sticking out of their heads, or water hoses being held in a way that the subject looks like they are urinating on somebody, etc. - done by writer/journalists who are just not good enough at photography to be considered a photojournalist. A photographer who is not being a journalist would be more likely see something like that, correct, and/or shoot the same scene from a variety of angles but not have to concern themselves with taking notes, interviewing, etc. to make sure they get the facts straight too.

Multi-tasking is always harder than one task, and not everybody is good at doing both. With your years of experience you likely are very good at multi-tasking but you may also be one among 1,000 who is and 999 aren't.

fbluhm Loc: San Antonio, TX

This is largely due to cutbacks in staff photographers. The Chicago Sun Times laid off all their photographers to save money and told their reporters take the photos, even if they had to use their iPhones. The quality has definitely gone down hill. At least the wire services still employ photojournalist - Getty, AP, etc. Yet, despite lack of jobs, there are still kids graduating from J-schools who want to be shooters, which is great, I think. These days, someone shoots the story, while someone else writes it. That's fine. I've been a writer and photographer since I left high school in the `60s, so I enjoy the process of writing the story as well as giving the reader a visual perception of what the story is about.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

I did the same thing for 13 years from 1989 to 2004 on a regional and statewide basis in the electric power world. The interviews and article writing were fun but the photos were just "frosting on the cake" in most cases unless it was some new project or device that the power company was proud of or a handshake thing with a Mayor or City Manager and a business owner.

The Internet ruined much of that business. Now most of the jobs you see online for writers are $10 or less for 500 words that are stolen from other sources and "spun" to look like it's not, or a bidding war as to how low a writer is willing to go to get a project - unless it requires specific knowledge, experience, and a degree. Even then it's not paying as well as a couple decades ago.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

What should be:
a) A Photojournalist captures what is happening and if possible, the essence of the the moment.
b) A Photographer has more freedom that he can do the same, or take an artistic version, or create his very own moment.

By virtue of ethics; journalism, including photo journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information. Hence should be truthful, straight and unbiased.

Sadly the news media today, including the photos and videos that they present, almost always attempts to change reality making it support their agenda. In its core, what used to be news & information has degraded into entertainment and worse, as means of control.

catchlight.. Loc: Wisconsin USA- Halden Norway

As for the magazines I currently work for, the terms "photographer" and "journalist" are separate terms. Some contributing are photographers only, and others like myself photograph and write the stories. I am considered an "editor" by definition, but the name "journalist" is used for my printed title, not "photojournalist". Perhaps the definition for "photojournalist" may be changing. A professional "photographer" will generally be able to cover a wide range of conditions including "catching the moment", but even an amateur or cell phone can capture an image that needs no words to explain... for me, I have nothing but admiration for when that happens.