#0
Someone recently compared today's journalism as the string quartet on the Titanic blithely playing as the Titanic sank. I think that is very close to reality since the established forums (newspapers, magazines, etc.) have had their way for more than a few decades.
Old habits and traditions die hard. Citizen journalism is, in many ways, the lifeboats for the Titanic and Demotix represents the lead boat.
As it became more apparent that traditional journalism was in deep trouble, the paradigm purveyors (like Morley Safer of CBS who said "I trust citizen journalism like I trust citizen brain surgery.") did everythig they could to diminish the power of the citizen journalist. Yet, the citizen (and Demotix) prevails.
While sales may not be exactly as high as we all might want, it is important that those of us who write and shoot remember that all revolutions begin slowly.
What Demotix is doing is groundbreaking. Without all of us working as a global team, the dream will never come to the light of day.
My suggestion to all is at the very least, do not simply rely on Demotix to do the soul marketing. I for one, always list my articles on my website with a link to Demotix.
I also use Facebook to "pitch" articles.
In other words, market your articles to everyone you can.
Keep the lifeboats afloat.
Keep the dream alive.
HI
This is Yasir Kazmi.
Thank you (Uncle Hugh Smith) for sharing your experience and great words with us. I will refer your words to every new comer of demotix and those who wants to do something good for thier culture, society and the betterment of their country. These words can be helpful for those that thinks journalism now dont have any power. Thank you so much again.
I am fully agree with you, and I am very hopeful that Inshallah demotix will find the beautiful Island, we all are with demotix and every single community who is working for the voice of humanity.
greeting from Pakistan.
Salute
Syed Yasir Kazmi
yasir_kazmi2004@hotmail.com
+(92) 345-2525210
awesome !! 
Thank you for your kind thoughts.
May I now make another recommendation?
While photographs are an essential and important part of reporting, it is also vitally important that we all try to write an accompanying article to the photos.
I see too often that citizen PJ's simply expect pictures to do the talking when the Who, What, When Where and How are just as vital. Then check your spelling. Then RE read and edit.
What you say with words will help your articles sell.
Also, consider joining a professional photojournalism organization. For example, I have been a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and it not only keeps me in touch with others in the field but shows that you are serious about what you do.
It is vital that people know you are serious and not just running around taking pictures.
Finally, get your articles exposed everywhere you can.
Hopefully, we are on the cusp of a new paradigm and, from this humble beginning at Demotix, we will all see the new era of PJ spring to light.
Hi everyone, my name is Jerod Harris and I am a freelance entertainment photojournalist in Los Angeles, California. I just wanted to jump in on this thread and my 2 cents. Photojournalism is a dying occupation. With periodicals reader base shrinking and smaller budgets, editors are looking for cheaper ways to license images. Ive noticed an influx of younger photographers who are willing to give their work away for free just to see their name in print. Unfortunately, photo credit doesn't pay the bills. I've tried educating these younger photographers but for the most part, they don't want to hear it and are content with working for free. Unfortunately, im not sponsored by mommy and daddy and have to pay my own way in life. Anyways, sorry for the rant. Just had to get it off my chest.
Regards,
Jerod
Jerod:
YOu are correct. Unless photographers protect their creativity, there will always be those who will sell for nothing.
Andy Warhol's 15 minutes of fame is coming to roost.
We need to hold the line for good journalism.
Hugh makes a good point about writing something to accompany your photos.
Nobody is expecting a long essay, but the basics of explaining what you saw, where it happened, why it was happening, when it happened, and who it was happening to, really do help in selling your story and are as important as shooting the images.
Matt
Bangkok, Thailand.
Very much in agreeance with you on this one Hugh. I do find it a challenge because I am not a writer but I did tell myself I would start writing something to turn in with my images and it seems that people want photographers to be writers also. I am good at captioning images but anything past the who, what, where and when proves to be challenging. I can easily tell a story to an audience or single person, but to find the words to write in article form is what I struggle with. I just turned in a small writeup I did accompanying some images I took at the request of an editor. I emailed the results this morning and did not receive a reply. I'm hoping that he was just busy and did not have time to contact me.
Hugh Smith
Sir Agreed, No doubt Photograph dont have any language and can understand in every language of the world, but to explain it is a very necessary job because photographer can explain it more specifically.
greetings from Pakistan
kazmi
Syed Yasir Kazmi
yasir_kazmi2004@hotmail.com
+(92) 345-2525210
I dont think that journalism is dying... it's just undergoing a LOT of changes. People now get their news from various outlets, that are sometimes a lot faster that traditional print media.... journalists need to adapt to this reality! The days of submitting your story at the end of the day, to get it published the next day, is over! People demand images and information as it happens.
Welcome to the age of lightning fast communication... get your camera ready, and shoot it like there is no tomorrow! The same technology used by the readers can be used to publish your facts... ride the wave and don't die like the dinosaurs!
I do not believe I said that journalism is dying. What I said is that the old paradigm is changing. To imply that journalism is dead is silliness.
On the whole you are correct.
As much as I dislike agreeing with Rupert Murdoch, his idea of implementing charges for online news content is the future of the "new" journalism. This is the kind of thinking that will help save 21st Century journalism.
News on the internet not the printed page is where the new journalists will find a voice for their work.
While tomorrow (Thanksgiving Day) is a purely American, or should I say Puritan holiday, it is with all thankfulness that I extend my warmest wishes to those who have less than we do and to those at Demotix (including the PJ's) who have worked so hard over the past year to bring the best news to the world.
Many blessings to you all.
I echo Hugh's sentiments!
Great thoughts and comments by everyone here.
While I agree that the face of journalism as a whole is under going a change, I see the future as a brighter one for those PJ's that can mold themselves to the changing times. I used to chase stories for the print daily in hopes of selling work, now I chase the story for myself and sell it to who ever is buying.
The buyers right now seem to be online news sites and some magazines and I also agree with the Poster that said people want the news now not tomorrow. I have adapted to that by shooting, post processing, and uploading or sending stuff to my regular news sources within an hour of the time the news happens. If you think you can't do it that fast, think laptop and Starbucks or other local free wi-fi hot spot.......
I sent the email to you sir Andyheath, but did not yet have the email reply, about the press card from Demotix how ?
Okky-Indonesia
Here is a very good article from Vincent Laforet about situation in a photojournalism and photography market: http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/2014
I strong recommend to everyone to read this interesting text. Well, in opinion from a lot of media specialists, in the next three - four years more then 90% of the web content will be a video clips. In this new order of the world young people wouldn't read a deep articles and a still images are very boring for them. So, I think that the new way for photojournalists will be a transforming into a "multimedia" journalists who could mixing still images, sounds and text and video in a interesting coherent story.
New trends I think we should all read!!!
http://mashable.com/2009/12/24/news-media-content-trends/
http://mashable.com/2009/12/09/future-journalist/
http://mashable.com/2009/04/07/social-journalism/
When one considers how far Demotix has come in only a year, it's pretty amazing.
While still a "baby" Demotix appears to many in the traditional industry to be a threat, Demotix may well be a part of the salvation of journalism.
May I suggest we all give a firm "Hip. Hip. Hooray" to Turi and the gang!
Hip hip Hoorrraaayyyyy
many congratulations to all PJs and Turi and the gang, demotix no doubt baby with big sizes 
salute the efforts of Pjs and complete gang of Demotix.com
regards
Kazmi
Syed Yasir Kazmi
yasir_kazmi2004@hotmail.com
+(92) 345-2525210
Fully agree with Hugh.
If we look back at old edition of People Magazine or TIME Magazine in the '70s there were stories covering 20 pages.
Now it's 4-5 pages if you're lucky and often the text is garbage.
On the other side, paparazzis and gossip magazines are making millions, i guess this says it all
about where we're heading.
The factor to blame is the ongoing global dumbing down of the west and the simple fact that most of the people is just not interested in world affairs, politics, third world, poverty, or whatever other sad event, all they want is to switch off from their 9-to-5 jobs and go on with their lifes, no matter what.
And now with the internet it's ironically going worse : over-information, over-imagery, videos all around and all for free, so much that people is going out of their homes much less than before cooking up the illusion of being "well informed" by blogs and such and therefore seeing more and more the world only or almost only from their TVs and their laptops wired to the internet.
They can't spot Iran on a map but they certainly know somehow (?) that Iran is evil but the other country xx or yyy is good and friendly despite the fact they can't even remember if it's in Asia or in anothe planet.
Who cares, show must go on, and journalists are just the ones feeding this "virtual reality" for them.
It's very bad that we dream about changing the world with our pictures as the very opposite is happening and always will.
The golden days of photojournalism are gone forever, may we like it or not, because people is not listening anymore.
Marco et al
I ran across this article written by a PJ for the Globe (and written very well) and he makes a profound statement that I think we can all learn from.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2010/01/17/exposed/
Interesting article.
The more i travel and the more i can see myself changing after witnessing first hand how's life in other countries, especially in the poorest and godforsaken areas.
And still now in 2010 in remote areas of China you'll be the only white man in town with kids pointing fingers at you and calling you laowai and wanting to have a picture with you (the same show can be seen in Tiananmen Square by the way, where plenty of rural chinese take a tour group to go on pilgrimage in Beijing...)
Same happens when you ride a second class train in western china, you'll hear the most absurd questions, be offered rice wine for breakfast, invited to have lunch with dried fish and instant noodles ...
Better like ths than watching your steps when shooting in dangerous areas of South America or even in the suburbs of London or Paris.
