GPN Set to Sustain Photojournalism in the Digital Age

Nosa Alekhuogie

With the increasing innovation in the digital space which has opened the public to high definition photography, Chairman, Guild of Photojournalists of Nigeria (GPN), Mr. Abiodun Ajala, has said that the organisation is poised to ensure sustainability of photojournalism as digital innovation pushes the frontiers professionalism.

Speaking with THISDAY on the sidelines of the 2021 Annual Conference and Exhibition held by the organisation in Lagos recently tagged: “Digital Revolution: Opportunities and Challenges in the 21st Century Photojournalism”, Ajala noted that although challenges abound, the organisation is set to ensure sustainability in the professional of photojournalism.

Ajala stated that the sensitisation of elementary school students on the art of photojournalism would open them up to pursuing it as a career adding that in time, the sensitisation exercise would be taken to tertiary institutions aiding participants with work tools.

“There is need for photojournalists to come together to create a guideline for sustainability and partnership. that is why we are coming with a catch them young initiative by going into elementary schools to teach them about photography so as to grow their interest in photojournalism. We want to mentor them and at the end support them with materials. If we can achieve that, we would go further to do the same in tertiary institutions”, he said.

Meanwhile veteran photojournalist and Head, Department of General Studies at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Dr. Boye Ola, opined for a deliberate measure to grow the industry by building an online portfolio and divesting from print to online platforms. This, he said, would open up the market of professional photojournalism in Nigeria to the world.

“Photojournalism is gradually moving away from just the papers, so photojournalists should keep doing their best. You may not be appreciated locally but keep doing your best and have an online presence to post your pictures. There are people online looking for good images.

“Let the Guild have a gallery where members can post their pictures. Let them have a website where members can post their pictures in very low resolution such that people can come and see us in one place”, he said.

On his part, Head, Product Marketing and Growth, Tarragon Group, Mr. Oti Okubejinye, laid emphasis on the future of work for the photojournalist and how technology and knowledge can make the work more viable for photojournalists.

According to him, the social media economics is very simple. “Brands have two ways of communicating with their consumers- through the direct paid means or through communities and moments. People check some pages because they enjoy the content that they get from them. Some Photojournalists are known by their name as celebrity photojournalists today because they keep putting out great content. They take advantage of social media to keep putting that content.

“Tell your stories independently as individuals. What happens is that on the monetisation perspective, once your following grows, there is a consumer there. People know that this person tells these kinds of stories and it is a brand character and that is how you get your money”, he further said.