American Photojournalism: Motivations and Meanings (Medill School of Journalism Visions of the American Press)

The traditional approach to studying American photojournalism explains the what and who of photojournalism - what events and developments occurred, what no-table images were taken, and who took them. Without neglecting those concerns, American Photojournalism emphasizes the why. It explains how contemporary photojournalism is grounded in three large ideas: the desire to witness and record historical events and important people, the belief in photography's power to advance social justice, and the embrace of a universal humanism. Cookman argues that contemporary photojournalists are strongly influenced by these three ideas, and that these ideas have become the central tenets of the profession.