Photojournalism is my profession, and there's a long story about how I got into this field. Maybe I'll write about that some other day. Today, I want to share my thoughts on how I've seen this profession in Bangladesh during my nearly 14-year career.
Photojournalism is not a job for everyone. Those who enter this field just to earn a living may find that it's not the right fit for them. This is a profession for brave and passionate individuals. Among all branches of journalism, photojournalism is perhaps the most challenging. Photojournalists have to work right in the middle of events as they unfold. That's why a good photojournalist is an invaluable asset to any newspaper or media house.
A reporter takes risks to gather news, but the risks faced by photojournalists are often much greater. While a reporter can collect information from a relatively safe distance, photojournalists don't have that luxury. I've seen countless fellow photojournalists work in extreme, chaotic situations, get seriously injured, and I've experienced it myself too.
I've never seen a senior photojournalist become a news editor or editor at any media outlet unless they started their own news platform. I believe this is largely due to traditional practices in photojournalism. When I joined this profession, I heard stories of seniors handing cameras to someone from their hometown or a known junior with little or no educational qualifications, turning them into photojournalists over time. There's nothing wrong with that, but many of them never received proper training after entering the field.
I believe my fellow photojournalist friends in this country won't misunderstand me. From what I've observed, many photographers working in journalism are not academically educated, and some have limited educational qualifications. Despite this, I've seen mainstream news photographers in Bangladesh capture incredible photos even in challenging situations. There's no doubt they are highly determined and courageous.
However, it's also true that due to a lack of photographic or academic education, they often struggle to identify which photos are suitable for a local or global audience. Additionally, writing captions or creating caption-based news is a critical skill, and weaknesses in this area are quite evident.
In today's globalized world, having basic knowledge of visual language and communication skills is essential to stay relevant. Unfortunately, many lack the necessary visual and communicative language skills to present their work to the world. As a result, their great work often remains unseen, and the world misses out on some truly remarkable contributions from our photographers.
In our country, there are various photojournalism organizations, but their role in improving the quality of journalism is questionable. What should these organizations actually do? They should ensure job security for journalists, create employment opportunities for unemployed photojournalists, take steps to improve the quality of work, stand fully by their members in times of trouble, promote journalists' work at both national and international levels, organize photography exhibitions, create a global marketplace for buying and selling photos, and collaborate with renowned international organizations. However, these qualities are still largely absent in the existing organizations.
“I believe my fellow photojournalist friends in this country won't
misunderstand me. From what I've observed, many photographers working in
journalism are not academically educated, and some have limited
educational qualifications.”
The perception of photojournalists in the media world often leads to their undervaluation in the workplace. The reality of photojournalism in Bangladesh is that photojournalists face discrimination in their own offices. From salary structures to voicing opinions in the newsroom, they are often sidelined. I've seen reporters assign photojournalists for their stories, but I've never seen a photojournalist assign a reporter for their photos. In most cases, photojournalists aren't even consulted about which photo will be published.
The ironic part is that non-photographic decision-makers are the ones deciding what to publish and what not to. Even more frustrating is that in many cases, photojournalists don't even get proper credit for their photos. Of course, this doesn't apply to all media houses-4 or 5 stand out as exceptions, but the rest share more or less the same issues.
Despite their shortcomings, photojournalists continue to work with incredible courage and maintain full professionalism in their roles.
Although photojournalists are beginning to overcome these challenges, this progress isn't due to any organizational efforts. Instead, each photojournalist is working individually to improve themselves and the field of photojournalism-and they are finding success in doing so.
If our promising photojournalists are provided with advanced training, various workshops, and even regular 3- or 6-month short courses, I believe they can keep pace with the global standard. This would not only help them work competitively on an international level but also enable them to earn a fair income and gain respect in their workplace.
From what I've seen, I'm not sure how logical it is to enter this profession with lofty financial ambitions. To succeed in this field, one must be deeply passionate, willing to reshape their thinking, and continually reassess society, people, and the state system from different perspectives.
One must constantly ask themselves: why did this event happen, how did it happen, and who or what influenced it? It's crucial to rise above emotions and develop the ability to think critically, both from the local context and the broader global perspective.
The writer is a photo journalist, The Daily Observer
