Photographic resources in digital newspapers: the values of digital photography

Abstract

Digital photography when applied to the communications media and in particular to the written press takes on certain specific characteristics. Its fluid circulation on the net, its availability and in particular its format, which does not necessarily demand excellent, flawless quality in order to be reproduced, raises certain questions of great interest which have still not been analysed in depth. The large number of web sites which invite amateurs (as well as professionals) to post their photographs, free of all rights, thus making them available for any use whatsoever, raises serious problems for the companies engaged in the creation and marketing of images, as well as for the leading information and news agencies. The impact of digital photography on the press (immediacy, analysis, stockpiling and collection) are so extraordinary that they stir up continuous controversy among professionals. As regards their application, an analysis is made in this study, using the leading Spanish daily newspapers as the references, bearing in mind their quantity, types of images, illustrated sections, page design and other factors which have been considered fundamental.