alittlenews

Jay Janner’s blog is in my blogroll and I hope you guys all check out Jay’s stuff regularly.  Just in case you haven’t please go read about Jay’s coverage of the Fort Hood Shootings. You will see what it takes to be a compassionate, community journalist.

After you have seen that post, follow this link to see photos and hear an audio slideshow of Jay and two of his colleagues talking about covering the tragedy.  There is no “easy” button for stuff like this.  Jay and his colleagues faced one of the most daunting tasks in photojournalism, that is telling a difficult, emotional story while still respecting those who are suffering through the tragedy.

I know of no more difficult thing to do in photojournalism than to walk the tight rope of informing the public with powerful, storytelling images balanced against the need to not victimize the families any further.  I think these three photojournalists did a great job.  The images are strong but I never got the feeling that the photographers were anything but compassionate.

I know that many people who do not know or understand what photojournalists do think of us as ambulance chasers or ghouls preying upon the suffering of others.  I don’t know anyone like that.  In fact, most of the photojournalists I know take no joy when someone else suffers.  We have a job to do.  We try our best to do that job professionally.  And we try to keep our sanity in the process.  What many folks don’t understand is that we are there facing the very real emotion of the situation, not as people who are somehow without feeling but as fellow human beings who are affected by tragedy and suffering.  We often are shooting through our tears.  We may finish shooting the event but carry emotional baggage from it for years.  Sometimes you can’t sleep at night because of what you have seen.  It can be tough.

When you hear these Austin American Statesman photojournalists talk about covering the tragedy you will see their humanity and that is a very good thing.  I think they did a great job and I hope I never have to find out how I would perform under such circumstances.

The opinions expressed in this blog are my own and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.