Why do you think
TV news photographers have such a poor reputation among the general
public?
(Letters from the
archives of PhotogsLounge.net)
Pat Gribbin WESH-TV
Orlando, FL
"To
begin, I'm not convinced that tv news photographers have such a bad
reputation in the general public. I think that is an overly broad comment.
I personally don't feel vilified or pitied on an everyday basis. But
since the question does have a ring of familiarity to it, I'll toss
in a couple observations.
The biggest perception problem we face comes from the unpleasant task
we have of intruding on other peoples' misfortune. On a small scale,
we affect and often anger our subjects or nearby citizens with the need
to get our cameras in their faces when they are perhaps most stricken
or vulnerable. We're there just long enough to get our tape, then we're
just another part of a bad memory. On a larger scale, our own coverage
of ourselves (the wide shot showing 15 cameras surrounding one person
who is unable to walk through us or around us) shows thousands of addtional
people who weren't there how we can seem like piranhas. We come across
as tv's front line in the quest for the most mayhem and controversy
we can get on each day.
The photographer generally doesn't decide what events to cover, but
we're the among the easiest to single out when it's time to gripe about
the coverage. Until the lust for carnage, fear mongering, and on-camera
wailing ends, many photographers will continue to feel a certain amount
of contempt from the public cuz we're the ones scrambling for it. Additionally,
I think many photographers contribute to the public's opinion of the
craft (positive or negative) by the way we present ourselves.
Let's take appearance, for example. I'm not one for rigid dress codes,
but we all would benefit by dressing a little more professionally. Even
those of us who have to run microwave trucks in addition to our photography
duties shouldn't just assume that we can get away with anything in the
name of comfort. My biggest gripe when it comes to our dress is the
way many of us appear at solemn, dignified events such as funerals.
To show up for one of those in the standard garb (t-shirts and levis)
is insulting and in extremely poor taste. Lots of other folks are in
their class-a's. We should be too. It shows respect. In return, we don't
lose respect. Before someone launches into the "but i never know what
i'm covering till i come in the next day" excuse, do one of two things.
Care enough about what's going on in the community to know that the
possibility exists that you could be assigned to it the next day (better
yet, check with the desk before you leave). Or carry an appropriate
change of clothes in your vehicle or locker so you can react quickly
to the day's assignment.
Having said all that, I still don't hang my head in shame when i introduce
myself to someone as a television news photographer, photojournalist,
whatever. Most people seem interested in the profession. I think that
a very high percentage of the people we encounter on the job appreciate
what we can do and notice a professional job well done. They treat us
with the same respect and courtesy that we show them. Which is about
the best that can be said for any profession." . "
Andy Pederson WRIC-TV
Richmond, VA
"Often, we step
into people lives at an important time in there life. They may have
just won a blue ribbon in some event or they might be standing behind
some yellow crime tape looking down at a loved one who died in the last
hour. Good or bad, we must respect that little space in their life that
just changed for better or for worse. In the past, a few morons have
made the rest of us look bad by jumping in their face to get a wonderful
closeup of a tear falling down their face. There is a time and place
for everything. Sometimes, we must let the reporter go up, without the
big eye of the camera, and ask if now is the time for them.
If not,hey, that's why you have a zoom lens."
Kolin
Lawler WPMT-TV York, PA
"Did you
ever see the movie "Scream"? The fat, dumb photographer who lugs around
an old Ikagami ( without a deck or interface cable, of course) and is
ordered around like a mule by an attractive reporter. A similar portrayal
is offered in the movie "Groundhog Day". Photographers are depicted
many times as subhumans with cameras attached to their shoulders, chasing
after one tragedy after another and sticking their lenses in everyones
face. When have you ever seen a photographer lauded for putting together
a great story that takes the viewer where they would never dare go themselves.
Oh well, they will think what they want about us. We'll keep doing what
we do and they'll sit back and enjoy."
David Cantor The
Toledo Blade Toledo, OH
"Prior to my move
to Ohio, I spent 20 years in NYC. During the late 80's as a wire stringer,
I covered the courts, you know Mr.Gotti, Leona, Imelda, Mr. Trump, blah,
blah.....Anywho, as the AP guy on scene I felt it was my responsibility
to try and work well with network and TV crews.. The news mag shows
sent in the clowns, and it got to be dicey. I once had an intern from
ET refer to stills as "bloodsuckers" loud enough for our subjects to
notice. Three years after that, I chose to go inside for my full-time
gig, because the street had gotten real stupid, as they say in South
Queens. Our image is predicated by behavior in the larger markets. The
beauty of a AAA town is the contained manner in which we can work. Hell,
we even can do some creative journalism, instead of outside the court
goat f**ks as I used to call them. "
Darren Bailey
KHQ-TV Spokane, WA
"Because we are
the ones with that BIG scary thing on our shoulders staring them down
with that big lens......We are the ones that get close and sometimes
invade personal space. Some people think we are "live" all the time
and if they walk in front of the camera they are going to be seen on
tv by millions. We show the lives of people, sometimes the side that
they want to keep secret. The public seems to not have a problem with
still photogs. and reporters because their just a "person" and not a
camera they have to talk to that's recording every move they make."
Bruce Johnson
Wisconsin Public TV
"Let me count the
ways...O.J, Monica Lewinsky, Madonna, Betty Currie, any person walking
out of a federal courthouse into a hornet's nest of Fujinon and Canon
lenses, I could go on and on. It's not necessarily the cameraperson
that has the bad reputation, it's ambush and pack journalism. The wide
shots on stories like that are about the only time a person watching
TV actually _sees_ the people making the images, and it ain't pretty.
The visual connection is made for the viewer, and from that point on
they have no reason to not believe the equation that goes: " TV bad
= cameraperson bad."
By the way, I don't lose much sleep over this...if TV journalism is
going to regain respect with the public, the movement is going to have
to begin at a pay grade way higher than that of the photographers.."
John DuMontelle
Latincam Managua, Nicaragua
"I'm not sure our
rep is that bad. I do think we catch more grief from people because
we are the ones they have more of a chance to meet in person than other
people in the biz. Our job is like those of cops. People either are
real happy to have us around or they are very unhappy to see us. A reporter
or producer isn't carrying a big camera on their shoulder to identify
what their job is so people usually approach the shooter first. Obviously
the recent death of Di has caused people to paint us all with the same
brush. Even most movies and TV shows depict us as donut eating morons.
If people are calm enough to talk to, I'm able to change that image
they have. The others are a lost cause and I don't care what they think.
If I worry too much about what people think about me and my job, I'd
never get it done. All of us remember the first time we had to step
in front of a crowd at some local speech to get a shot of some VIP.
There's always going to be someone that doesn't like to have a camera
around. The key is to just do the best job you can in a professional
manner and then get the hell out of the way."
Chris Weaver WGHP-TV
Winston-Salem, NC
"A lot of TV News
Photographers I see on the street look sloppy. Understanding that we
are in the trenches, so to speak, and can't wear our Sunday clothes,
is still not an acceptable reason to wear sloppy, torn, ragged out clothing.
I am usually in jeans but try to keep from wearing them after they develop
holes or looked aged. And I always wear a nice collared shirt. Several
years ago I went to a luncheon put on by the republican party with the
guest speaker being Oliver North. As with most assignments I did not
know that I would be going there until it was too late too change clothes.
I had on jean shorts and a NASCAR T-Shirt. Boy was I embarassed. I looked
so out of place. And I don't doubt that people were thinking 'boy those
sloppy photogs!'. Needless to say I make sure whatever I wear it will
fit in almost any situation. Even if I am overdressed for real dirty
work I have a bag of older spare clothes with me at all times."
David Busse KABC-TV
Los Angeles, CA
"1. Most of us
dress like plumbers. Take a more professional attitude about how you
look and the public will respond accordingly. Do not wear shorts to
work. Do not wear stupid T-shirts.
2. Be humble. Be polite. Most of us go thru the arrogance stage, where
we get shots at any cost and please management, but look like heartless
jerks to those who were there. When we act like assholes in front of
people, they tell their friends.
3. Watch how we are portrayed in TV and movies and you will see just
how far we have to go to better the image of TV news photographers."
Chuck Purnell WVEC-TV
Norfolk, VA
"I don't think photographers
get a poor reputation from the general public, at least, not I! They might
not like how we can park almost anywhere, go as close as possible on a
crime scene, or walk right into an event that people have been waiting
in line for a while!! On the other hand a photographer can get a bad rep.
by his/her style of shooting. We had a guy at our shop last summer that
used to shoot some good stuff but sometimes it would be jarring to the
eye! We all were like: what the heck is that! Needless to say he is not
with us anymore.
Also it is all about how you conduct yourself out in the field. The public
needs to realize that we are just doing our job. Lately I have been having
fun with the public because they ask some STUPID questions sometimes like
Are we live? my reply: Do you see any cables, a monitor, Live truck???!!!!
Or something is going on (spot news) and it is clear what is going on,
and somebody says: hey man whats going on? So since they want to ask a
stupid question I give them a stupid answer! my reply: You see a person
in that house was abducted by aliens and they called in the swat team
to coax them out! And they believed me!!!!! I think the bottom line is
that some individuals don't want a camera all up in their face. But that
is one thing I like about my job!"
Merry Murray WZZM-TV
Grand Rapids, MI
"I think a bad reputation
comes from the few bad photographers. The ones who cut you off in traffic,
the ones who don't respect a persons feelings. (getting in someones face
who may have just lost their family in some kind of an accident) A lot
of people don't know the difference between local news photogs and network
ones. When I was working in Wichita, Kansas, PrimeTime Live did a hidden
camera story on guns in schools at one of the local high schools. Just
because I worked for the ABC affliliate it meant that I was involved.
The fact was we didn't even know they were in town! While I was there
the station never did regain the respect of that schools officials."
Dan Konik WBNS-TV
Columbus, OH
"Interesting question,
although I'm not sure I agree we have a bad reputation. For the most part,
the people I meet on the street are friendly and usually excited to see
me. Granted, if I'm in a rough part of town, this isn't always the case.
People who are mad at the media in general are looking for anyone to yell
at. The biggest reaction I get from the public is (are?) questions and
comments about our anchors."
Andy Dubrovsky WHDH-TV
Boston MA
"As a group we tend
to be loud, bossy, cocky, pompous,cynical, and we mostly dress like slobs.
Nothing wrong with that. It comes with the job. We do need to be more
aware of our surroundings and the people who are watching us. When you're
at the scene of a tragedy, don't make jokes and laugh out loud. It can
piss people off. Lets try and be a bit more respectful of the victims."
Phil Cantor
WTVF-TV Nashville, TN
"The
answer as to why people don't like or respect us Photogs is pretty simple.
The usual image of us that they see is the "Pack" of cameras following
someone out of court or something similar. We all know how messy and ugly
those can be. Most people seem to think that is all we do. Heck, it bothers
me to see those monster "Packs" following people(ie. Lewinskygate). Unfortunately
those are the images people have of us. There isn't an easy remedy to
the image problem. Stepping away from the camera while doing a story and
just talking to the people you are involved with often will help. I don't
know that there is an easy solution, maybe someone else has some good
ones."
Rich Weiss
KTVU-TV
Oakland, CA
"I hate to say this
but most photogs (at least around here) dress like slobs. Keep in mind
you might do a funeral as well as a flood. That coupled w/ the need for
speed that always seem to breathing down our necks makes us look not only
unkept but rude as well. And also I won't answer *anyone* while I'm rolling...it's
not going to be my voice on the nat sound!"
Log YOUR answer
in the MessageBoard
Forum or
My Guys Answer this Question
More Photogspeak
Questions
How
has this job changed your driving habits?
-How have injuries affected
your shooting?
-Should
TV photogs be represented by unions?
What
is YOUR "style"?
