HoldTheFrontPage | The Guardian
Johnston Press’ newspapers in England’s Midlands region will no longer have photographers, Helen Lambourne reports. A source tells Lambourne “the papers would instead rely on freelance photographers, along with increasing use of submitted pictures from readers and reporters taking photos on their phones.”
In The Guardian, Roy Greenslade says concerns about quality probably won’t be relevant “at local weekly newspaper level.”
No event occurs – fires, fetes, road accidents, cats up trees, whatever – without someone being on hand to snap a picture. In the real sense of the word, newspaper photographers are therefore redundant.
Photographers “must surely recognise that their fate is due to a combination of the digital revolution and newspaper economics,” Greenslade writes. “It does make sense.”
Johnston Press owns newspapers throughout the U.K. Greenslade says he’s heard reports that the company plans a similar move in Scotland. In 2012, Johnston Press eliminated the role of editor-in-chief at Edinburgh’s The Scotsman, saying it wanted to create a “flatter, more efficient management structure.” The company recently hired Jeff Moriarty from the Boston Globe in a top digital role.
Previously: Chicago Sun-Times lays off its photo staff
Comments