When the Chicago Sun-Times announced that they were laying off their entire photography staff, like most people I was shocked and disappointed. As the reports surfaced that reporters would be trained in the use of an iPhone camera as replacements, my reaction switched to amazement. As reporters are trying to get all the facts of a story, they also have to stop and think of getting a picture as well? I’m sure that will work out well. I mean, what surgeon isn’t also an auto mechanic? What teacher isn’t also a short-order cook?
When the reporters were told that they were going to become iPhone photographers, where was their outrage? Where was the solidarity with their fallen partners in creating the most respected newspapers in the country? Why did they not stand up, with a unifying voice, declare that they would not be enablers of the removal of an integral part of news gathering? Why weren’t the opinion pages overflowing with outrage over the management’s decision?
With the task of taking photographs being given to reporters, it seems that the opinion of management is that “good enough” is good enough. Not really where you would want to see the bar set for such a grand name in news. If “good enough” is the new modus operand at the Sun-Times, then why not just fire 28 of the journalists and have the photographers write the articles that go with their images? I’m sure if you gave all the photographers a laptop, a copy of Microsoft Word and a few hours of training, they would make fine investigative reporters.
The answer to that question in particular that has gotten me riled up. The simple fact is that those skills are not interchangeable, something that should be clear as you read my writing here. Sure, I could write an article, but I doubt it would be very good, and I know I couldn’t grind out reportage day after day. Taking pictures is the same from a reporter’s point of view. Sure, they can do it, but they aren’t going to be very good, and girding out images day after day is going to be out of reach for most.
I really don’t blame the journalists at the paper. In perilous times like these, I would want to keep my head down as well. Besides, I doubt that it would really make anyone change their minds about the layoffs. I’m not even sure if any level of uproar could change the minds of managers of other papers from following suit. It wasn’t that long ago that the Washington Times dropped its entire photography department. There was outrage, but life went on, and the outrage subsided. The outrage will subside here too, and this event will get repeated in newsrooms all across the country.
