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| Demonstrators take cover during rioting between pro and anti Mubarak supporters in Tahrir Square in Cairo REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic |
By Liz Masoner, About.com Guide
Citizen Photojournalism in Egypt - How the Internet Makes Everyone a Witness to History
Wednesday February 2, 2011
You may have heard the term "citizen journalist" before. It is used both as a complimentary and a derogatory term, all depending on who uses it. Basically it just means that a person not employed as a journalist is reporting on an event. The Internet, through social networking sites and blogs, gives almost anyone the power to pass on reports and stories to the world. What you'll hear less often is "citizen photojournalist" or "citizen photojournalism." It is amazing but in this digital age, the visual side of reporting is often forgotten.
A photojournalist is a reporter who tells a story with pictures rather than words and a citizen photojournalist is one who doesn't make a living as a photojournalist but still tells stories with photos. There are a lot of conflicting ideas on what a photojournalist is and isn't. To put it simply, a photojournalist bears witness to events and through photography allows others to also bear witness. A photojournalist isn't there to pass judgment or skew a story (although stories are easily skewed by accident if a photojournalist isn't careful). A photojournalist is there to record what happens and make sure everyone else who is willing also sees the event.
Through the Internet (even though Egypt tried to shut it off), citizen photojournalists have filled our screens with records of what is happening in Egypt. Often these views are one-sided as a citizen photojournalist records what is of interest to them, not neutrality. The photos are rarely edited for safety either. Gore and brutality reigns in a citizen photojournalist's slideshow. However, combine all the photos from all the photographers and a larger picture starts to emerge. Thanks to the Internet and digital photography, we all bear witness as never before.
Some Sources for Photos from Egypt (CAUTION: these photos may contain gore and other objectionable material)
A photojournalist is a reporter who tells a story with pictures rather than words and a citizen photojournalist is one who doesn't make a living as a photojournalist but still tells stories with photos. There are a lot of conflicting ideas on what a photojournalist is and isn't. To put it simply, a photojournalist bears witness to events and through photography allows others to also bear witness. A photojournalist isn't there to pass judgment or skew a story (although stories are easily skewed by accident if a photojournalist isn't careful). A photojournalist is there to record what happens and make sure everyone else who is willing also sees the event.
Through the Internet (even though Egypt tried to shut it off), citizen photojournalists have filled our screens with records of what is happening in Egypt. Often these views are one-sided as a citizen photojournalist records what is of interest to them, not neutrality. The photos are rarely edited for safety either. Gore and brutality reigns in a citizen photojournalist's slideshow. However, combine all the photos from all the photographers and a larger picture starts to emerge. Thanks to the Internet and digital photography, we all bear witness as never before.
Some Sources for Photos from Egypt (CAUTION: these photos may contain gore and other objectionable material)
View Slideshows. Read each caption.
1. http://scottnelson.photoshelter.com/gallery/Cairo-Unrest-Threatens-Government/G0000rh4BX2iQtlI
2. http://cassel.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Egyptian-Intifada-30-January/G00008MhM.6P7.uk/I0000oLUNxk0I6Zk
3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/euronews/sets/72157625923539926/