JOINING THE NPPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JOINING THE NPPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
It’s an honor today to be appointed to the board of directors of the National Press Photographers Association by president Mark Dolan. I’ll be serving out the term of a director who is leaving. The NPPA has been a powerful voice for photographers, finding itself on the front line of issues affecting the livelihood of photographers. Most of the photography community at large probably isn’t even aware the debt it owes to the advocacy done by NPPA and its general consul Mickey Osterreicher on such contemporary legal issues such as Orphan Works and drone photography. It’s a privilege to be a part of the organization, and I’m grateful for the invitation.
My involvement, which I’m sure was Mark Dolan’s intention, was to bring more voices of independent professionals into the room at a time where there are less and less photographers who are full-time staff photographers. After I decided to leave the Chicago Tribune, I came to acutely understand the challenges of being an independent contractor while staying true to oneself as a storyteller. I join the ranks of many other photojournalists who either left their companies, took buyouts, or were let go. The challenge for the NPPA is to help those photographers who wish to continue their important documentary work when the business model is in a tailspin.
Some perspective about the value of photojournalism – at a recent portfolio review, I met with several art buyers from ad agencies who with few exceptions started our conversations professing an admiration for photojournalism. They, like the world at large, understand that photojournalists are non-fiction photographers whose images have the ring of truth. Their clients and audiences are becoming more sophisticated about imagery and are demanding less spin and more authentic documentary storytelling. Like what happened in the wedding market, real-life documentary is a trend in the commercial world. This should come as some encouragement for those wondering if there a ways to sustain one’s career as a narrative storyteller.
From my perspective, there are economic trends in the market that cut both ways for photographers. But some may not wish to go down any commercial or corporate route, preferring to double-down on the editorial world. Others pursue the wedding market to support their photojournalism. The challenge is to support, encourage and strengthen the work of photojournalists however they wish to stay in business. As someone who has worked more than twenty years at newspapers, I hope to bring some ideas and energy to the association’s mission.