Technology and cost saving

Respondents were asked the following question as part of survey question ten.

How much do you agree with the statement "Reporters taking photographs is the inevitable consequence of technological change and the NUJ should support it"
All respondents
NUJ members
Non-NUJ members
NI/ROI respondents
 
I strongly disagree with the statement 61.4%
70.4%
54.7%
73.1%
 
I mildly disagree with the statement 18.7%
16.0%
20.7%
23.1%
 
Neutral 10.8%
6.2%
14.5%
  0.0%
 
I mildly agree with the statement 6.6%
4.9%
7.8%
3.8 %
 
I strongly agree with the statement. 2.4%
2.5%
2.2%
  0%
 

Additional comments left by NUJ members:

  • “I have never felt that reporters taking photographs has been a threat – mostly … invariably … their images are crap – but it is worth reporters taking a camera with them in case there is no photographer about – and sometimes any image can be better than no image. A good photographer will always tell a story with a picture better than a reporter or a member of the public. I worked on a paper during a period when the NUJ was not recognised – and reporters were ‘required’ to take pictures – it was soon accepted that they could not illustrate anything – not even a vox pop.”
  • “Local papers will and are testing many ways of using staff and various forms of imaging equipment, it cannot be stopped and why should it? The NUJ should not have endorsed this element of the agreement because as a Union it traditionally supports job segregation, which is it’s strength and weakness. It should have found a middle way on this one. I feel some of the movers and shakers are over reacting against the NUJ’s position which is damaging to the Union.”
  • “I strongly recommend that the Drogheda Independent issues local Freelance Photographers with mobile phones to write, edit and submit written articles for publication.”
  • “Reporters have always taken pictures. In 1989 staff at the Bradford Telegraph began to use compacts in favour of commissioned photographers. So this debacle is nothing new. The NUJ did nothing to oppose this in 1989 and photographers were noticeably silent. I oppose the agreement but due to the above I refuse work from ‘local’ newspapers and similar clients. For example both the Big issue and BBC refuse to pay for photographers (but have no such agreement with say the phone company or journalists). Press photography as envisioned by this agreement and the current state of the market is a dead dodo. I personally only work for foreign newspapers now and supplement my income with repro fees and video work. There’s no other way to eat!”
  • “In the three years i’ve been a freelance photographer, i’ve known reporters who have taken pics for papers and photographers who have written pieces for their images. Neither of which i have found a threat on my profession. There are times when one is without the other and they do as good a job that they can with the circumstances provided. This is not a concern to me, however I would fear the thought that it is the intention of publications and journalist organizations that one person should do both jobs on a regular basis. I am a professional photographer who has no intention on writing the words to go with my images as I believe a good reporter is worth their weight in gold and are sure there is many reporters who would feel the same about their photographers and wouldn’t dream of crossing over in a financial gain let alone to crush the professions financially as this may do. I feel the problem could lie in the future where new journalists are forced to take pics by publications on the understanding that if they are intending on working with the papers then they must do all they can to ensure they get their foot in the door. We all know how hard it is to get a start in this profession. I am very concerned with the lack of correspondence and support from the NUJ to its members in this situation. The NUJ is meant to be an organization acting as a voice for its members for such issues and yet I feel this has been ignored in this instance.”

Additional comments left by non NUJ members:

  • “Local papers will and are testing many ways of using staff and various forms of imaging equipment, it cannot be stopped and why should it? The NUJ should not have endorsed this element of the agreement because as a Union it traditionally supports job segregation, which is it’s strength and weakness. It should have found a middle way on this one. I feel some of the movers and shakers are over reacting against the NUJ’s position which is damaging to the Union.”
  • “Tech change will happen and image quality may drop by reporters taking snaps but photographers (like myself) need to look at higher quality outlets as the market changes – too strong a position against changes will not help us in the long term, we need to be kept on our toes a bit without letting the publishers walk all over us”
  • “Continued technological progress makes the use of dual role journalists inevitable. We cannot un-invent the wheel, we must learn to utilise it or follow the Dodo.”

Publications, quality and profit.

Respondents were asked the following question as part of survey question ten.

How much do you agree with the statement "Publishers must exploit all possibilities of saving money on content in order to maintain healthy publications"
All respondents
NUJ members
Non-NUJ members
NI/ROI respondents
 
I strongly disagree with the statement 56.6%
65.4%
50.3%
61.5%
 
I mildly disagree with the statement 18.7%
14.8%
21.2%
19.2%
 
Neutral 15.7%
14.2%
16.8%
15.4%
 
I mildly agree with the statement 8.1%
4.3%
11.2%
3.8 %
 
I strongly agree with the statement. 0.9%
1.2%
0.6%
  0%
 

Additional comments left by NUJ members:

  • “The NUJ has here entirely forgotten its role, principles and duties where freelances and the public need for quality journalism are concerned. All this now appears to be a tradeable asset in the NUJ’s efforts to support employers’ pursuit of profits. It is far the worst misjudgment I can remember in 25yrs of NUJ membership.”
  • “There seems to be an inevitable move by publishers to get the maximum out of their editorial staff. It follows that they would wish writers to be able to take images whilst on an assignment. New technology promotes the instant picture – a snap image – but it does not take into account the special skill a photographer has in producing an image that publishes and often more than adds to the written story. Unfortunately there does not seem to be an equal provision for the photographer who can "snap" a news item with an instant pen device. Quite possibly, in the near future, a photographer wishing to earn a living in journalism should also be a writer. That would be a degree worth having!”

Additional comments left by non NUJ members:

  • “This decision is simply a way for publications to save money, it has nothing whatsoever to do with maintaining standards or embracing technology. The NUJ has failed its’ members and proved that freelance photographers are not important to them, in effect it has taken their money under false pretences”

The effect on the DI and elsewhere

Respondents were asked the following question as part of survey question ten.

How much do you agree with the statement "The quality of the Drogheda Independent will be improved by the house agreement."
All respondents
NUJ members
Non-NUJ members
NI/ROI respondents
 
I strongly disagree with the statement 62.0%
64.8%
60.3%
73.1%
 
I mildly disagree with the statement 16.3%
14.2%
17.3%
15.4%
 
Neutral 18.4%
19.1%
17.9%
11.5%
 
I mildly agree with the statement 1.8%
0.6%
2.8%
  0 %
 
I strongly agree with the statement. 1.5%
1.2%
1.7%
  0%
 

Additional comments left by NUJ members:

  • “Depending on the forum (and who says it) the Union is issuing many different messages. Photographers and the Photo Sub Committee are committed to high quality, service and quality standards. The validation of the Drogheda agreement does however suggest that others in the Union have a different view as to what quality Journalism means…. No one in the NUJ or outside of it, is going to believe that we represent high quality photojournalism whilst we endorse reporters routinely carrying cameras (or in the case of Drogheda almost certainly camera/phones). If the Union is going down this route then we need some firm and precise statements as to what Quality Journalism entails when it comes to photography… The ownership of a digital camera does not make one a capable photographer, in the same way that the ability to read and write and even use a computer does not make one a capable journalist or author. Equipment is just equipment, it is the person who creates the image or assembles the words…The best bet is for a proper, organised information campaign, which could (should) be led by the NUJ. But with the NUJ currently sending out such mixed messages, even this seems like a pipe dream. I think Andrew Wiard has explained it quite well: "The only way we can deal with this is by establishing best practice, by recommending the highest standards to our members, and where we have the strength insisting that in normal circumstances work is done by skilled professionals, staff or freelance." And until the union actually makes a commitment to this and follows through, I see no way forward, and we will be continuing a retreat comparable to Napoleon in Russia.”

Additional comments left by non NUJ members:

  • “I can’t imagine what came over the NEC! It may be financially advantageous to proprietors to have reporters taking photos but the quality of the images and, therefore of the whole publication, will decline.”

Template for similar agreements

Respondents were asked the following question as part of survey question ten.

How much do you agree with the statement "The Drogheda Independent house agreement will form a template for future agreements elsewhere"
All respondents
NUJ members
Non-NUJ members
NI/ROI respondents
 
I strongly disagree with the statement 9.6%
11.7%
7.8%
7.7%
 
I mildly disagree with the statement 5.1%
3.7%
6.7%
3.8%
 
Neutral 13.6%
11.7%
15.1%
  0%
 
I mildly agree with the statement 29.8%
27.2%
30.7%
23.1 %
 
I strongly agree with the statement. 41.9%
45.7%
39.7%
65.4%
 

Additional comments left by NUJ members:

  • “I think the agreement is, probably, the thin end of the wedge. In less than 5 years, there will be very few staff or freelance snappers working for any publication. Most pics will be from scribblers and, so called, citizen journalists.”

Additional comments left by non NUJ members:

  • “If done in Ireland, Britain next.”