Video Convergence: Factors Affecting Photojournalists’ Satisfaction and Adoption

Abstract

A survey of visual journalists (N = 132) shooting online video finds that factors affecting photojournalists’ satisfaction and perceptions of quality are related to training and experience. As still and video convergence continues, overall, more than half of visual journalists surveyed are satisfied shooting online video. Survey respondents with more video training had higher satisfaction recording video and perceptions of quality in their shooting. However, less than half of respondents had combined still photography and video shooting on assignment some or all of the time—showing a low rate of video technology adoption and combination with the still photography skill set. Of that, a majority showed dissatisfaction with shooting both stills and video. Findings are discussed in regard to diffusion of innovations theory.

Declaration of Interest

The author is a long-standing member of the National Press Photographers Association and received a scholarship from the National Press Photographers Foundation, a nonprofit advancer of photojournalism through scholarships, after the survey had been conducted for this article.

Notes

1 The NPPA is a good organization to survey because it has more than 6,000 visual professionals and students—staff and freelance photojournalists, videographers and editors—in all media forms. It is the largest professional news visuals organization and has been in existence since 1947 (National Press Photographers Association, 2017).

2 The ASMP is one of the leading trade associations for media photographers, working with physical and online publications, and has nearly 5,000 members. It was founded in 1944 by magazine photographers (American Society of Media Photographers [ASMP], n.d.).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher T. Assaf

Christopher T. Assaf is currently a doctoral student in the School of Journalism and Media at The University of Texas at Austin after earning his Master’s of Arts in Journalism in 2020. His research interests involve sociology of photojournalists, photojournalism practice and history, visual communication theory, and photographic semantics. His research and creative work has been recognized by AEJMC Southeast Colloquium 2021, AEJMC 2020, and AEJMC Toronto 2019. A highly experienced, award-winning visual storyteller, Assaf has worked around the country. He spent 13 years at The Baltimore Sun where he started as a staff photographer, moved into video and web production as a multimedia editor, and then visual content editor for Sunday and enterprise. He was member of the team recognized as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Breaking News—contributing as a photographer, cinematographer, video editor, producer, and editor—for coverage of Freddie Gray’s death in police custody and the resulting unrest. E-mail: [email protected]