MARK AMIES
funnier than Les Dennis
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Archant group ditches photographers
- Thread starter MARK AMIES
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YAY! A £10 book voucher for exclusive snaps that'll be syndicated around the world by a huge company!!!!!!
****ity ****ing **** ****ers.
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the 'citizen journalism' site launch at the same time is just the extra slap in the face really...
I'm sure that a lot of uncle bobs will be delighted to have their pictures of the village fair printed in the paper.
I'm sure that a lot of uncle bobs will be delighted to have their pictures of the village fair printed in the paper.
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Not unexpected. People are cutting back on newspapers and the cost of print and distribution keeps increasing. Advertising is being cut back, partly due to the climate, partly due to the growth of online - just look at the people the the business section here saying that papers dont work and not to advertise there. Something needs to give, costs need to be cut, and when I read a paper its the story that I am interested in, the pic just adds a bit extra and I wouldnt care if the quality drops much.
Times change, photography is not the exclusive domain it once was.
Times change, photography is not the exclusive domain it once was.
Photodiva
Foot elevated on the stool
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Cheeky! I got published regularly by an Archant-owned paper, then they 'rationalised' their sports editorial, got rid of 2 editors, and now a 4-page sports section is a 2-page and even thought I submit, only rarely now get published. Wonder when that will reach here?
OP
MARK AMIES
funnier than Les Dennis
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What I find interesting here i sthat this is all very well whilst there is a bubble of interest from the public to send in the images, but what happens when that fizzles out? Hmm, no images. Solution? Umm............we better employ some photographers?
Likewise, all very well if you can get a half decent quality of image,but what happens when all you have ot choose from is rubbish? Solution? Umm.........We better employ someone who knows what they are doing and can take a decent shot, when we want them.
It's crude cost cutting and taking advantage of the general public's willingness to engage.
It will go full circle.
Likewise, all very well if you can get a half decent quality of image,but what happens when all you have ot choose from is rubbish? Solution? Umm.........We better employ someone who knows what they are doing and can take a decent shot, when we want them.
It's crude cost cutting and taking advantage of the general public's willingness to engage.
It will go full circle.
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I'm glad I left Archant when I did, about four years back now. They were already dumping staff at all levels, closing regional news offices, closing titles, editorial cuts meant reporters were trying to cover towns they didn't have time to visit, pagination dropping almost as fast as advertising revenue. I was doing seven day shifts every other week, averaging over 60 hours per week. There was little fun left, so I handed in my Canon and went freelance. They had over 150 applicants for my old spot, and the winner got about five grand less than I was on. I understand that it hasn't gone up since.
I reckon some regional weeklies can survive, but the dailies are pretty much doomed.
I reckon some regional weeklies can survive, but the dailies are pretty much doomed.
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The thing is, it isn't going to fizzle out, if anything it's going to grow and grow, "citizen journalism" is the future....
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I was early for a meeting today so picked up an Archant mag in the reception. Hard to believe they have only just decided not to employ photographers....
Like most mags there were some nice pics but the general quality was awful. I suspect that might be to do with their rates.
But then crowdsourcing is the new vogue. Whether it's prizes for designing space ships, design competitions to create logos or asking the "public" if they were near something newsworthy with a phone.
Like most mags there were some nice pics but the general quality was awful. I suspect that might be to do with their rates.
But then crowdsourcing is the new vogue. Whether it's prizes for designing space ships, design competitions to create logos or asking the "public" if they were near something newsworthy with a phone.
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Which will very quickly equal everything being bland, uninspiring and average. Average is the new media.
It will come to pass but we are in a time of everyone thinking they can make music, be a photographer, artist etc. the problem is most of them are rubbish. This even makes those who have real talent unlikely to go anywhere as they will drown in this sea of mediocrity.
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The way I see it it could go one of a few ways,
- The quality of citizen journalism stays low and the market becomes saturated, readership falls off/some more papers and agencies go bust, the need for skilled photographers and journalists able to produce quality content becomes apparent and things do indeed go full circle.
- Citizen journalism takes over completely. Technology and interest in 'seeing your name in print' means the quality of content generated increases. paying for a press image becomes a thing of the past.
- Same as first option but the need for skilled photogs and journos isn't seen quickly enough with the result that printed news disappears from our lives and only digital sources (with the assosciated citizen journalism/crowd sourcing) remain.
While one hopes that the first suggestion plays out I won't be holding my breath. Nor shall I be pursuing a career in photojournalism any time soon.
I also won't be holding my breath that current tactic of 'whining and moaning and reminiscing about 'back in the day' and alienating any new faces at photocalls lest they steal some of the precious jobs' which some peoplein the industry seem to be adopting at the moment will do the slightest bit of good in saving any jobs. (rant over)
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I think what we are witnessing is the death of the newspaper and with it the traditional roles and values of paid content. Hardly a day goes by without someone, somewhere berating one of the large media organisations for stealing their pictures, it's no longer seen as wrong....
The perceived value of the digital image is, like it or not, much lower than it was back in the days of film, the world is changing and everyone will need to adapt or die, it's as simple as that....
Not very helpful,the pic at just a bit extra :shake:,some of the great stories of our time have been driven by great newsphotos
I think what we are witnessing is the death of the newspaper and with it the traditional roles and values of paid content. Hardly a day goes by without someone, somewhere berating one of the large media organisations for stealing their pictures, it's no longer seen as wrong....
The perceived value of the digital image is, like it or not, much lower than it was back in the days of film, the world is changing and everyone will need to adapt or die, it's as simple as that....
Yup, trouble is, I don't see much adapting happening.
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I think what we are witnessing is the death of the newspaper and with it the traditional roles and values of paid content. Hardly a day goes by without someone, somewhere berating one of the large media organisations for stealing their pictures, it's no longer seen as wrong....
The perceived value of the digital image is, like it or not, much lower than it was back in the days of film, the world is changing and everyone will need to adapt or die, it's as simple as that....
I'm afraid you're exactly right Graham. People aren't buying newspapers and magazines in anything like the numbers of a few years ago. It's not just a bit of a decline, it's massive losses like levels of half or a quarter of where things once were. It's ironic that people come on a free website to winge about it!
If people don't buy papers, advertsing revenue quickly follows so cost cutting is the only way to make ends meet. And when these days there's a ready supply of cheap or free pics going, well, what's going to happen?
It's happening on a bigger scale in the nationals, and that's one of the things driving the recent phone-hacking scandals - a desperate need to sell copies, at any price, and it's only going to get worse.
All media is going through a huge transition, and it'll take a few years yet to sort out.
On the Huh
Little Ball of Fur
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Social networking sites are a great way to reach the public it seems. Yes there is a fella with a sarky comment at the top (Good on him), but, although I cut the comment off there is a tweet from someone I know as a Pro portrait/Wedding 'tographer, boasting of sending in his first scoop.
On the Huh
Little Ball of Fur
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Oh and the iphone brigade will love it.
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Funny you should mention that, I came across a "recommended app" on a journalism site which was basically for punters to write their own articles/ submit pictures for the app owners to publish/syndicate without any offer of payment.
If sites aimed at the profession are advocating submitting to such sites what real hope is there?
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Here's some hard hitting photojournalism right here:
http://norfolk.iwitness24.co.uk/en/photos/news/2011-11-29/283/funny-sign.html
Then again, all of this stuff is hardly new, BBC and other iphone apps have had the same functionality for ages.
http://norfolk.iwitness24.co.uk/en/photos/news/2011-11-29/283/funny-sign.html
Then again, all of this stuff is hardly new, BBC and other iphone apps have had the same functionality for ages.
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On the Huh
Little Ball of Fur
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It may not be new, but is evolvoving if Archant are sacking ALL it's staffers
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I`m seeing cheap journalism & daylight robbery, carefully hidden as a sudo competition. I really wonder if the t&c's are a fair contract or as it offers a prize complies fully with the necessary regulations) http://www.out-law.com/page-6780
It even says in the copy "could receive a prize" so is it a competition or not how much, how is it decided. It might be interesting in about a years time to ask them to revel the names of the "winners". If it is "reward" (as mentioned in another article) surely that could amount to payment and be subject to tax and NI ?
It even says in the copy "could receive a prize" so is it a competition or not how much, how is it decided. It might be interesting in about a years time to ask them to revel the names of the "winners". If it is "reward" (as mentioned in another article) surely that could amount to payment and be subject to tax and NI ?
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Maybe the photographers should set up a citizen news website with all the local news free, no need to buy the paper then, stiff them back.
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The ironic thing is that the newspapers themselves have websites which contain their news stories too... just like the paper version its paid for by advertising.
Essentially the problem is the same all over - "the internet means things are free" - free journalism, free photos, free music, free video, free software.
Thats what "people" expect, so why should they pay for it?
We're all guilty of it to some degree - even if its only reading a (non-paid for) news website rather than buying a newspaper or magazine. You did know that when you did that you were condemning a journo to the dole queue didn't you?
Clearly it will go full circle at some point, but no idea when.
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Exactly, I read my local rag online, partly out of convenience but also I dont like it enough to buy it. Go back to the 80s, most local business would only advertise in papers or Yellow Pages. Now there is a lot more competityion like magazines, but mainly the web where so much is free. How many times do people say on here to set up a WordPress site for free, or to do other things for free. I do find many togs on here have double standards - moaning about those who do photography for free but then using or doing free things themselves.
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In cases like warzones and things like the Egypt unrest lot's of the photos in news articles were from locals on mobile phones. Maybe not the best quality shots but they captured the action as well as professional photographers because these locals are in the heart of the action and are often in places foreign press wouldn't be allowed to access. With god quality cameras becoming cheaper and cheaper in a few years even people in poorer countries will be able to own cameras more than capable of providing web quality shots. Personally I think this is a good thing for news coverage as it give more local insight and slant to the coverage.
Personally I don't buy papers any more, and to be honest I don't really listen to the news much other than to catch the headlines. Journalism in areas I know something about, ie aviation, transport, is so poor these days that I prefer to get my news from people in the industry itself. Look at the Costa ship thing. Some really poor, sensationalist and inaccurate reporting there.
Personally I don't buy papers any more, and to be honest I don't really listen to the news much other than to catch the headlines. Journalism in areas I know something about, ie aviation, transport, is so poor these days that I prefer to get my news from people in the industry itself. Look at the Costa ship thing. Some really poor, sensationalist and inaccurate reporting there.
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A lot of poor journalism isn't down to poor journalists (and a lot is!). There is tremendous pressure on them these days. No only are there far fewer per title, but they are under pressure to get the stuff out fast - too fast for proper, considered writing and research.
Nick Davie's excellent Flat Earth News is a great read on the subject if you're interested in this stuff.
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I've not read the entire thread, so apologies if someone has already said this.
Presumably with the dumbing down of imagery in the printed media, and general mediocrity, this creates a cycle and a new door will open.
If you're surrounded by poor imagery it'll make it easier for the quality images to stand out. In a similar way that 500px has achieved. Now everyone is raving about the image quality on there, as opposed to the utter dross on Flickr.
Unfortunately however long that cycle will take, I've no idea :shrug:
Presumably with the dumbing down of imagery in the printed media, and general mediocrity, this creates a cycle and a new door will open.
If you're surrounded by poor imagery it'll make it easier for the quality images to stand out. In a similar way that 500px has achieved. Now everyone is raving about the image quality on there, as opposed to the utter dross on Flickr.
Unfortunately however long that cycle will take, I've no idea :shrug:
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It was always likely to happen witness the cruise liner sinking this week with loads of photo's from phones all over the papers,the problem for the papers will arise when they assume lots of Citizen photos from a major event and for whatever reason nothing turns up,then they will be totally screwed.
However this is just another example of human beings losing their jobs because of technology and has been happening since the Luddites first protested
However this is just another example of human beings losing their jobs because of technology and has been happening since the Luddites first protested
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I think this is true. It's a very complicated issue, but the upshot of it is the 'free' ethic of the internet squeezes out quality content, or at the least it is hidden beneath such a mountain of total crap it's impossible to find the real nuggets.
There is a real need and demand for quality material that people are prepared to pay for, but are unable to right now because the quality content is either not there or impossible to find, and there is no easy mechanism yet to pay for it even if it was.
What I think will happen, or what I'd like to happen, is the facility to click on a page of interest and automatically have my web account debited by 0.2p or something and at the end of the month I'd pick up a bill for a few quid. Something like the way we pay for sending a mobile text - so quick and easy and cheap we don't think twice about it, but the value of the service is huge.
We actually pay a fortune for all this free stuff - computers and broadband and software and apps and heck know what else. Hundreds of pounds, thousands - but the actual thing you want to see/read costs nothing! It doesn't make sense, and I think it will have to change. Most free websites are worth exactly what you pay for them.