Newspaper Photographers

I wonder if newspapers don’t want to be dealing with all the system upgrades that happen. This was not really an issue back in the film days. However, if it’s a major publication you’ll probably find that there is a budget for equipment given to the photographer in addition to their salery to cover annual equipment expenses. I know of this being the case at some papers. And it’s often quite generous. It saves the paper a great deal of hassle particularly with regard to Canon v Nikon debates and such like.

I guess, it just seems like another cost saving measure that works out bad in our favor.

ya,
the situation is similAr in India. here small publication houses dont have their pro-photogarphy equipments. its the photographer who owns that and work not only for the organisation, also his own assignments for early recovery of camera and equipment cost.
its seems the newspapers are not eagar to develop their exclusive team in the field of photography

SUBHAMOY

It’s been a long time since I made my living as a newspaper shooter, but most smaller papers do require your own gear. The reporters have access to point and shoot for simple articles and the photographer gets assignments from the editor based on what that person thinks are the most important items.

I used to work in Manila and the paper I shot for provided digital equipment, but that was after I paid my dues, sort of, by shooting with my old analog Nikon. Other photographers, even those working for major broadsheets, were not as fortunate and were forced to shoot with their own cheap point-and-shoot digital cameras or their Nikon F3s or FM2s that hail back to their 70s or 80s heydey. I discovered that the situation is similar here in the US, though most photographers can afford their own professional gear instead of cheap amateur cameras or if they still use film, they’re updated. The Jersey City paper my wife shoots for does not provide gear but gives an annual allowance to cover SOME of the costs of maintenance and upgrading. A freelancer like me is expected to have my own equipment. Otherwise, I can’t get jobs anywhere. I really don’t know if that’s always been the case.