Foreword by Jeremy Dear
The stills images created by photojournalists number among the most iconic representations of the modern age. Robert Capa’s photos of the D Day landings, and Nick Ut’s picture of the nine year old Kim Phuc covered in napalm during the Vietnam war, to give just two examples, have shaped the way we all understand those events.
It is not just world-changing events that photojournalists are responsible for framing in our minds, however. Every newspaper, magazine and broadcast news outlet relies on photography to bring attention to, contextualise and explain stories.
Unusually among journalists’ unions, the NUJ has always been proud to represent photographers, both staff and freelance. The union seeks to protect and advance the interests of photographers, as we do for all our members.
But we also recognise that they have special needs. For example, it was as a result of NUJ lobbying during the passing of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988, that photographers acquired, for the first time, copyright in commissioned images. Today changing technology has placed photographic skills under threat, making the NUJ’s protection all the more vital.
The purpose of this website is first and foremost to demonstrate the quality of work produced by NUJ photojournalists. I hope that all who look here will agree with me that the images in this exhibition are truly outstanding. The skill of a good photographer is not something that can be replicated by a passer by with a camera phone. Publishers and broadcasters need to recognise this if they want to continue to attract attention in an era of dramatically increased competition in the media.
The effort involved in mounting this exhibition is also a demonstration of just how committed NUJ photographers are to defending quality journalism. These pictures were originally selected for a showcase exhibition to celebrate the NUJ’s centenary, paid for by NUJ branches, the Anne Bolt Fund and Imaging Insurance. It could not have happened without the work of Pamela Morton, in the NUJ’s freelance office.
Since then, the images continue to be exhibited up and down the UK. This website brings them to a whole new audience. All the work creating the site have been donated by unpaid activists. Their commitment is an example to us all.
If you want to support and defend quality photojournalism, please see our sister site www.standupforjournalism.org for a full campaign briefing.
Jeremy Dear
General Secretary
National Union of Journalists
