This project investigates international photo agency work and image brokering. The research methods include ethnographic observation and interviews among the labor behind international news images. The empirical material will be gathered from three research sites: an international news photo agency, Finnish news photo agency and a Finnish news magazine.
Goal
The aim of the research is to study the effects that the digital circulation of news images and social media cause for the professional photojournalism and image brokering. 1) On global level: The aim is to study how the news images circulate from a global agent to the Finnish picture agency and finally to the end user that is a Finnish news magazine in this case. 2) On local level: the study explores what kinds of new ethical concerns does the digitalized and networked environment cause for the professionals and how do they deal with the concerns and what kinds of established practices there are and what kinds of practices based on the tacit knowledge do exist. Furthermore, the study will map what kinds of technical tools the professionals use in order to deal with their ethical concerns. Finally, the aim of the study is to shed light on the process of the international image brokering practice.
Funding source
Kone Foundation