Adapt or perish

You don't have to be a regular reader of lightstalkers to hear the collective groaning in the photojournalism communities around the world. In every meeting and seminar I attend related to photography here in Barcelona I always hear the same sob stories from photographers.

Let's face it though, the traditional news media is at a crossroads because it is in fierce competition with free print media, television and online content. Simply put, people are buying fewer newspapers and magazines and classified advertising has gone to places like craigslist. We read new articles everyday about staff cuts and job losses at major newspapers.  Here's one from the New York Times. The way I see it we have two options, adapt or perish. 

Some photographers have taken this challenge head on and plowed forward into the world of multimedia. If you want to take a look at some great stories that are just as short and effective as documentary films take a look at some of the stories at MediaStorm.

My favorites are Luis Sinco's "The Marlboro Marine" and Ed Kashi's "Iraqi Kurdistan".