Storytelling constitutes a vital part of Journalism, be it through the written and spoken word or impactful visuals. On the other hand, photography does not only documents the happy moments but can be used as a powerful tool to tell unspoken stories that often get ignored. Blending these two crucial forms of storytelling, Photojournalism concerns itself with depicting those untold and overlooked narratives that are prevalent in the present times. A photojournalist is a one-man team travelling through the conflicted regions across the world and bringing out striking images that portray those people, communities or issues that are somehow cut off from the world. Through this blog, we will delve deeper into what a career in Photojournalism is all about, universities offering courses in this domain as well as the scope it entails.
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What is Photojournalism?
As a specialised field of study, Photojournalism is concerned with the application of photography skills and aesthetics to the domain of news reporting and journalism. As a photojournalist, you get to work with broadcast channels, newspapers and magazines and bring them stories from the far-fetched parts across the globe. Essentially, this job combines the role of a photographer with a reporter as you get to document life as it is along with contemporary issues that the world is going through.
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Subjects Covered
Though most of the photography courses avail students with the opportunity to specialise in the arena of photojournalism, there are many basic diplomas and certificates that will only give you a general overview of this field. Meanwhile, let’s first take a look at the varied subjects that constitute the study of Photojournalism:
- Introduction to Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
- Art Photography vs. Photojournalism
- Histories and Theories of Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
- Documentary Storytelling
- Media Theory and Media Law
- Dissertation
- Photojournalism in the News
- Contemporary Professional Practice
- Understanding Exposure – Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO
- Aesthetic Effects of Manipulating Exposure Components
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Skills Required to Become a Photojournalist
Since Photojournalism as a career domain demands persistence and perseverance, the aspirants need to possess certain skills in order to pursue this field. Take a look at the following list of key skills and abilities that you must imbibe to capture visuals that are powerful and thought-provoking.
- Attention to Detail
- Speed
- Image and Video Editing
- Technical Skills: Advanced knowledge of composition, aesthetic photography, etc.
- Communication Skills
- Research Skills
- Networking
- Flexibility
- Organisational Skills
Courses in Photojournalism
There are various educational institutions around the world that provide a wide range of specialised courses focusing on the study of Photojournalism. Take a look at the following list of photography and media courses having this specialisation:
- Diploma/BA/MA in Journalism (Photojournalism)
- Bachelor of Journalism (Photojournalism)
- BA (Hons) in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
- BFA in Photojournalism
- MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
- MA in New Media Photojournalism
- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism: Concentration in Photojournalism
- B.S.V.C. in Visual Communication – Photojournalism Major
Also Read: Master in Journalism
Top Universities Offering Courses in Photojournalism
An array of numerous universities and colleges around the world offer a multitude of courses in the field of Journalism and Photography. Once you have decided a program to study, go through the below-mentioned list which elucidate some of the major institutions providing courses in this domain:
- University of Gloucestershire, UK
- University of Westminster, UK
- University of Missouri, United States
- George Washington University, United States
- London Metropolitan University, UK
- University of South Wales, UK
- Central Michigan University, United States
- Columbia College Chicago, United States
- Loyalist College, Canada
- Ohio University, United States
- RMIT University, Australia
Job Prospects
There are diverse job opportunities for students after completing a degree in Photojournalism. As a photojournalist, you can work independently as a freelancer or associate yourself with broadcast companies, public relations firms, advertising agencies, news agencies, TV channels, newspapers and magazines. Further, you can also work with film production houses to work on documentary filmmaking. Given below is a list of popular jobs which student with a degree in Photojournalism can pursue:
- Photographer
- Journalist
- Film and Video Editor
- Reporter
- Broadcast News Analyst
- Video Producer
- Multimedia Specialist
- VFX Artist
Thus, opting for a career in Photojournalism means that you will be pursuing a rigorous yet fulfilling and rewarding job! If you are aspiring to study a degree in Journalism or Media-related fields, take the help of our Leverage Edu’s AI tool to browse through a plethora of programs and universities in your chosen domain and find a suitable combination that aligns with your interests and aspirations.
