This was originally posted on the NPPA-L by Paul Guillory, a photojournalist turned Copy editor at The Advocate, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana:
I posted a note here earlier this week encouraging a photographer to defect to the word side as a way of helping teach editors about picture usage. And it set me thinking about an occasionally visited topic on the list: respect.
We often complain that we photographers are not taken seriously in the newsroom. Would you consider for a moment that we create a persona that makes it easy for us not to be taken seriously?
Here are a few suggestions (from a former photographer who now gets to watch the photographers from the other side of the room):
Be careful about what you put on paper. You are actually being evaluated on the cutlines, memos, evaluations, purchase requests, etc., that you write. So buy a dictionary and use the spell checker. Find a stylebook. Let a copy editor read your memos before you submit them. Write an occasional story to
prove that you are a “well-rounded” journalist. (Your writing is a BIG deal. The word people complain about bad cutlines, poor grammar, misspelled names and shady fact checking. The more polished your writing is, the more respect you are granted.)Wear the uniform. Instead of jeans and hiking boots, change into pressed slacks and a long-sleeve shirt before the news meeting. Keep a tie and jacket on hand for when you will be in front of the publisher or mayor.
Modulate your voice. Photographers love to bitch. But a well-reasoned, quietly delivered argument goes much further.
Take a copy editor, city editor or features editor to lunch. And DON'T talk about newspapers or photography. Get to know these people. Let them see you as a person. Talk about your kids, hunting, the cabinets you built for the kitchen. Save any attempts to “educate” for the fifth, eighth or 10th
luncheon.Be ahead of the game. Read the paper and read the wire budgets early in the day. Know what's going on in the world so you can participate in newsroom and budget meeting discussions.
Be interested and involved in the process, but don't micromanage. (This suggestion comes from a news editor friend of mine.) Attend the planning meetings and have your picture ideas ready. Propose stories. If an assignment is crap, be honest about it; BUT be ready to suggest something better. Offer alternatives at all stages of the process. (One sports editor says he wants more than one picture.) And make deadline.
Apologize when you're wrong. Don't try to explain bad decisions. Just say “I'm sorry, I screwed up,” and leave it at that.
Good luck,
Paul Guillory
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If copy editors are going to pass judgment on your writing skills, then what’s the point of being a photographer? I can understand where this is coming from, but the bottom line is how well your photog visually represents the story thru visuals, not on typing memos.
The respect comes from bringing in visually stimulating art, that visually tells the story.
The lack of respect that is in our newsroom is from photogs to copy editors, not the other way around. Copy editors feel meaningless text is more important, cutting down the size that a photo is run, and, or, not using the photo at all, even if it represents the story much better than the text.
It’s just ridiculous to judge a photog on writing. Plain and simple
If copy editors are going to pass judgment on your writing skills, then what’s the point of being a photographer? I can understand where this is coming from, but the bottom line is how well your photog visually represents the story thru visuals, not on typing memos.
The respect comes from bringing in visually stimulating art, that visually tells the story.
The lack of respect that is in our newsroom is from photogs to copy editors, not the other way around. Copy editors feel meaningless text is more important, cutting down the size that a photo is run, and, or, not using the photo at all, even if it represents the story much better than the text.
It’s just ridiculous to judge a photog on writing. Plain and simple
There is a big difference between “photographer” and “photojournalist.” Paul Guillory, from years of experience as a photojournalist, is simply suggesting that we become both photographers and journalists. And that, for the better, means being able to write proficiently if you are an image maker.
While a Copy editor may have passed judgement on your work in the past, look to it as a learning opportunity rather than one of hostility. While you will continue to be judged by your peers for the way you see and capture moments, you can be sure that your progress and level of respectability in the newsroom will increase ten-fold should you have the ability or the interest to write well. The ability to write well will also hold you in good stead if you can put on paper first your rationale for why a particular image needs to be used in the manner you see fit. Think of the world’s best lawyers; while they may be able to successfully vocalize their position, it’s the written record in the end that holds sway in future deliberations.
Lastly, perhaps your newsroom is an oddity, but Guillory isn’t so much saying that a photojournalist should be judged by the quality of her/his writing as much as the professionalism that she/he brings to the job. Delivering consistently high quality work, be it a photograph, an extended caption or a memo is paramount (for your future). Shirking from that duty is nothing more than an innate and unforgiveable sign of laziness.
Not to be a pain in the rear, but you failed to end your last sentence with a ‘.’.
There is a big difference between “photographer” and “photojournalist.” Paul Guillory, from years of experience as a photojournalist, is simply suggesting that we become both photographers and journalists. And that, for the better, means being able to write proficiently if you are an image maker.
While a Copy editor may have passed judgement on your work in the past, look to it as a learning opportunity rather than one of hostility. While you will continue to be judged by your peers for the way you see and capture moments, you can be sure that your progress and level of respectability in the newsroom will increase ten-fold should you have the ability or the interest to write well. The ability to write well will also hold you in good stead if you can put on paper first your rationale for why a particular image needs to be used in the manner you see fit. Think of the world’s best lawyers; while they may be able to successfully vocalize their position, it’s the written record in the end that holds sway in future deliberations.
Lastly, perhaps your newsroom is an oddity, but Guillory isn’t so much saying that a photojournalist should be judged by the quality of her/his writing as much as the professionalism that she/he brings to the job. Delivering consistently high quality work, be it a photograph, an extended caption or a memo is paramount (for your future). Shirking from that duty is nothing more than an innate and unforgiveable sign of laziness.
Not to be a pain in the rear, but you failed to end your last sentence with a ‘.’.
If a photographer gets the Who, What, When, Why, and Where on a spot news gig or any other assignment, why is so important to be professional with the writing process, as long as facts are right? That is not there job (technically), I have done assignments where I have gotten the pertinent info. My job is not to be literarily creative, it is visually creative to tell the story. I don’t deny what he is saying. Copy editors (in my dealings) are prejudice with art. the only think literary, not visually.
If a photographer gets the Who, What, When, Why, and Where on a spot news gig or any other assignment, why is so important to be professional with the writing process, as long as facts are right? That is not there job (technically), I have done assignments where I have gotten the pertinent info. My job is not to be literarily creative, it is visually creative to tell the story. I don’t deny what he is saying. Copy editors (in my dealings) are prejudice with art. the only think literary, not visually.
…..and also, there is not a difference between photographer and photojournalist. You are doing the same, portraying what you see visually. Reporting, to be technical. Whether it be fine art or journalism. Don’t try to classify the different types of photography. Why do people shoot images? To tell a story. This is unarguable.
…..and also, there is not a difference between photographer and photojournalist. You are doing the same, portraying what you see visually. Reporting, to be technical. Whether it be fine art or journalism. Don’t try to classify the different types of photography. Why do people shoot images? To tell a story. This is unarguable.
From the original poster of this thread:
I’ve never made a big deal about the difference between the words photographer and photojournalist. For the most part, I referred to myself as “a reporter.” I just happened to report stories using my camera.
Some time ago, one of the old-timers on the NPPA-L referred to himself as a “news photographer.” I identify with that. Most of my work was DAILY photojournalism rather than project work. I wasn’t and never will be a superstar in the world of photojournalism; I was just a good daily news photographer.
About being judged on your writing:
I wasn’t suggesting that your cutlines and memos be beautiful works of prose, or even poetry. If you can do that, great. I’m simply saying that writing understandable sentences, using proper style and grammar garners respect.
Writing that contains misspellings, poor pronoun usage and such gets noticed and perpetuates the notion that “photographers aren’t serious journalists because they can’t spell.”
My intention (in writing the original post) was simply to suggest that we break the cycle of mistrust and lack of respect by doing things that BUILD respect instead.
Paul Guillory
From the original poster of this thread:
I’ve never made a big deal about the difference between the words photographer and photojournalist. For the most part, I referred to myself as “a reporter.” I just happened to report stories using my camera.
Some time ago, one of the old-timers on the NPPA-L referred to himself as a “news photographer.” I identify with that. Most of my work was DAILY photojournalism rather than project work. I wasn’t and never will be a superstar in the world of photojournalism; I was just a good daily news photographer.
About being judged on your writing:
I wasn’t suggesting that your cutlines and memos be beautiful works of prose, or even poetry. If you can do that, great. I’m simply saying that writing understandable sentences, using proper style and grammar garners respect.
Writing that contains misspellings, poor pronoun usage and such gets noticed and perpetuates the notion that “photographers aren’t serious journalists because they can’t spell.”
My intention (in writing the original post) was simply to suggest that we break the cycle of mistrust and lack of respect by doing things that BUILD respect instead.
Paul Guillory
“If a photographer gets the Who, What, When, Why, and Where on a spot news gig or any other assignment, why is so important to be professional with the writing process, as long as facts are right? ”
Good question. The problem is this, you may have your facts straight in your head, but if you can’t put them on paper correctly, they cease to be fact. They turn out to be incorrect bits and pieces of information and worse, fiction.
Consider the need for proper spelling. How many of the best newspapers apologize for misspelling people’s names or attribute a quote to someone other than the actual subject? It happens on the writing side of the business too. No doubt about it. But Paul’s original post on the NPPA-L was to caution us photographers or photojournalists (whatever suits you) to be better reporters. That most definitely involves presenting the facts accurately and writing well. I agree with Paul, no one is expecting photographers to turn out the next Nobel Prize winning epic.
Think of it this way – you have just completed an assignment and you are excited about the images you shot. Assuming you are still shooting film, the prints you have made are ready to go to the printer’s. A friend of yours unwittingly spills a bowl of cereal on your precious print. You quickly try and wipe it all off the print. But several spots of milk remain. Do you still send it in to be published or do you reprint it?
I agree this is a very simplistic example and the analogy may or may not convince you. But the junk on your print is akin to the misspellings and the grammatical errors in your captions. If you balk at sending in the print, you ought to consider rewriting that caption too.
“If a photographer gets the Who, What, When, Why, and Where on a spot news gig or any other assignment, why is so important to be professional with the writing process, as long as facts are right? ”
Good question. The problem is this, you may have your facts straight in your head, but if you can’t put them on paper correctly, they cease to be fact. They turn out to be incorrect bits and pieces of information and worse, fiction.
Consider the need for proper spelling. How many of the best newspapers apologize for misspelling people’s names or attribute a quote to someone other than the actual subject? It happens on the writing side of the business too. No doubt about it. But Paul’s original post on the NPPA-L was to caution us photographers or photojournalists (whatever suits you) to be better reporters. That most definitely involves presenting the facts accurately and writing well. I agree with Paul, no one is expecting photographers to turn out the next Nobel Prize winning epic.
Think of it this way – you have just completed an assignment and you are excited about the images you shot. Assuming you are still shooting film, the prints you have made are ready to go to the printer’s. A friend of yours unwittingly spills a bowl of cereal on your precious print. You quickly try and wipe it all off the print. But several spots of milk remain. Do you still send it in to be published or do you reprint it?
I agree this is a very simplistic example and the analogy may or may not convince you. But the junk on your print is akin to the misspellings and the grammatical errors in your captions. If you balk at sending in the print, you ought to consider rewriting that caption too.