A regional daily editor has praised the work of his staff photographers – saying his newspaper is “nothing” without them.
James Mitchinson, who edits the Yorkshire Post, has praised his title’s photographers in a social media post in which he ironically quoted an unnamed person as saying “they add nothing” to the regional press industry.
James declined to name the source of the quote, but promised to “share the ditty” behind it in person with one of his Twitter followers.
The Leeds-based Post currently employs eight full-time photographers on its books.
“There’s no room for photographers in regional journalism. They add nothing. Get rid of them.”
?
The YP is nothing without them. #SubscribeAndSupport pic.twitter.com/biwDNuhgt7
— James Mitchinson (@JayMitchinson) May 2, 2019
In his post on Twitter, James wrote: “‘There’s no room for photographers in regional journalism. They add nothing. Get rid of them.'”
This was followed by an image of a face crying with laughter, before he added: “The YP is nothing without them.”
In response, former Yorkshire Evening Post, Daily Mirror and ITV journalist Louise Male asked who was responsible for the comment he had quoted – a question which has also since been put to him by HTFP.
James replied: “Let’s have lunch, Louise. I’ll share the ditty.”
Both James and the Post’s photography team have received praise from social media users for the post, which has been widely shared.
Leeds Trinity University journalism lecturer Julian Cole, who spent around 27 years with York daily The Press before taking on his current role in 2015, wrote: “Every time I write a freelance feature for the Post the photos are great. Used to work with a talented team of photographers on another paper… one of those that shed the lot, sadly.”
James had shared an image of Friday’s Yorkshire Post front page, pictured above, with his tweet, and Bureau Local journalist Gareth Davies wrote: “Very well said (and a superb image).”
However, he was quizzed by SWNS photographer Tom Maddick on why he had used a photo from the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race, which was not taken by a staff photographer, to illustrate his point.
He replied: “Staff ones [from the race] inside. I’ll show them off later, too. Point remains, mind.”
Tom responded: “YP has some absolute world class snappers. Let’s hope those who are left, stay.”
James declined to comment further when approached by HTFP.
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And yet, the lead picture on the front was taken by a freelancer hired by Tour de Yorkshire and the other picture is a stock image.
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At least he’s saying something. I remember one “fearless” editor of mine who did as he was told when an incoming chief content officer proposed halving the photographic staffing levels.
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Editors unafraid to voice an opinion or stand up for their departments and staff? You must have a long memory One Time Sub
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@From the word furnace – I worked for editors from 1965 who were not afraid to stand up for their staff. At one paper even the MD had to ask the editor if he cld speak to a member of staff. And advertising staff had to ask to approach reporters. Good times. It was the same in the print room. You cld not cross into the print room without asking permission first from the head printer. It is because editors now – and I generalise – have to bow to the bosses that their positions have often become weakened.
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@From the Word furnace – as you may know, the previously-mentioned editor’s predecessor refused to accept staffing cuts and was summarily dispensed with. Less than a decade ago. Another world from today.
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To be honest I wouldn’t want to go back to those days wordsmith, the barriers between departments coming down was a good positive move for the company and staff and made for better working environment for all concerned however the role of an editor nowadays is reduced to little more than that of a supervisor, unquestioningly carrying out the directives of the content chief with no Input or clout. Today’s newsrooms and working practices no longer need true editors, which, as it turns out is just as well
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Staff photographers don’t just add quality in terms of the end product, but they also have – traditionally at least – helped open doors for reporters when going out on jobs as they are often seen as familiar faces and trusted figures on the patches they serve. Sadly though, even when staff photographers are employed these days they tend to now have to cover huge areas in which they can’t build up that same relationship with the public as before.
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Keep those snappers Post. You will miss them once they are gone. Lots of sent in- fuzzy, poorly composed badly lit crap. Even in the age of “foolproof” cameras.
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While I am delighted that the YP retains eight staff photographers, I am also furious in equal measure that we at other JPI papers have been left with no staff photographers for the past four years, with the firm message from the top that we cannot afford them. At JPI it’s very much becoming a case of the haves and have-nots. The majority of titles are being sacrificed to help the biggest ten or so to keep hold of their staff and offices.
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Agreed, Sub It Out – they know people, they know areas. They can also bail out the growing army of early-twentysomething reporters who have just moved to a circulation area and are lacking in training or experience – or at least they could if the big companies hadn’t decided to go down a different photographic road.
And Midlander also makes a very good point. After spending Easter staying in West Yorkshire I have to say that the JPI weeklies there are shockingly poor now due to an almost total absence of resources.
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@from the word furnace – and others: Quite agree that barriers between depts shld come down but depressing that at the same time the role/power of the editor has diminished. He/She was “the boss” who had the last word. I remember one editor helping me, not all that long ago, when I was under pressure from the advertising dept to write a certain feature. He told them in no uncertain measure to get off my back.
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To Wordsmith, I would love to return to those days you mention where newspapers had editors and desk editors who were newspaper people through and through, who were proud of the jobs they did, the people they managed, the stories, features and pictures that their departments produced, bravely stood up to the powers that be and did this several times per day to meet edition deadlines! Print unions were strong, probably because of closed shops and if (rare) redundancies occured you usually had to volunteer and got a proper payout! I’ve had a fair few Picture Editors who were gruff and sometimes rude, I didn’t mind that if they fought my corner, appreciated my efforts and gave praise where it was due as most did! Newspapers were exciting places then not places where you feared losing your job on a regular basis!
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weak ‘editors’ put in place to offer no resistance to change and to blindly do as they’re told by the, rarely to be seen, content chief ( certainly where I am anyway) have been instrumental in the collapse of the papers they were given ‘responsibility ‘ for.
Sitting back and going along with the axe wielding then being the one who has to justify the company decision to both those affected and the staff left behind, has lost them any credibility they might have had and reduced the role of editor to nothing more than a can carrying one,whilst they may believe themselves to be part of the chosen few, when push comes to shove and roles are consolidated they’ll soon find them selves shown the red card and out the door before they can say ‘ I totally agree boss’
Cutting photographers is a false economy when so many non productive roles remain.
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Newspapers without staff photographers are like a football team without a goalkeeper. They are out and about and can pick up stories on the hoof. I picked up numerous front page stories whilst employed as a staffer over the years. I went to all sorts of lengths to get that special news photo and readers appreciated it. The readership felt that THEY owned the paper and were proud of it. When one year I and the dep editor won major awards the local public felt like their football team had done the double. Then along came JP to decimate staff and quality. My local paper now has only two staff and is basically an awful product with circulation down by 70% since JP took over. The public loved having the paper’s photographer come to their event, now its can you take photos on your phone and send them in. Yes they will take photos but only put them up on FB. Number crunchers and directors who know absolutely nothing about newspapers have destroyed a flourishing industry.
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Excellent point from Dead Digital Horse! Photographers are often given stories including many splashes when out on routine jobs by people who just want to talk or don’t realise how newsworthy their tale is! A photographer turning up at an event or a story makes people feel that their story or event is special! It encourages them to buy the paper and encourage their friends, family and colleagues to do the same. By contrast, asking people to take their own phone pictures makes people feel their event isn’t really worth bothering with and creates resentment and loses readers.
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my local paper is full of people staring blankly, standing in a straight line and looking like they are lining up to face a free kick. In some cases they are managing to hold up a giant cheque. (wow! that’s new). Wonderful stuff and cheap.
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