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| Roberto Koch |
Our second expert is Roberto Koch, publisher of a Contrasto
books and director of the Contrasto
agency in Italy.
A former World Press Photo master in the Joop Swart Masterclass, jury member
and seminar tutor, Roberto says: “Several newspapers in Europe have increased
the number of photo-features they publish, like The
Guardian, for instance.
Specifically in Italy, La Repubblica
has, since late this year, adopted the same approach as some English newspapers
in devoting 15-20 pages (section R2) everyday to better photographs and often
a photo-feature.
This is an additional opportunity for photographers but the problem remains
of financing such features.
Quality photojournalism requires time and concentration and this means money:
the fees that newspapers pay in general do not cover all expenses and the money
is handed over after production and the feature is not commissioned in advance.
Photojournalists have to find alternative ways to produce stories and many
of them are succeeding by working with NGOs, foundations or institutions and
not only in the editorial market.
Today, daily coverage of world news is already visually assured by the very
talented photographers of the wire agencies.
The opportunity that remains for a freelance or a photographer who wishes to
continue with photojournalism is the photo essay: a more in-depth interpretation
of events, of the main players, of people.
Newspapers also play an important role in this area. For instance, requests
and assignments from newspapers, like Politiken
and others in Denmark, have resulted in a new wave of photojournalism.
But, whilst there is an increasing demand from the press there remains insufficient
money and photo-reporters must continue to obtain proper financing.
One good way is to try and put together a number of different newspapers (and
magazines) from various countries to share the expenses for a production. This
has proved efficient in the past even if it is never an easy task.
Last but not least, you have to look at how web news pages might increase the
total income from the publication rights of a feature.”
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