Best Ways to Become a News Photographer

It's said that a picture can tell a thousand words. Because of this, photography has always been an important part of journalism. Being a news photographer can be an exciting and rewarding career. There are several ways for a person interested in photojournalism to enter the field.

The most common way to become a news photographer is through education and experience. Typically, news photographers go to a four year university and major in journalism or something similar. For a list of classes in news photography (or photojournalism), see the degree requirements at the University of Missouri. While in college, many people work in internships at local newspapers or other new organizations. When they graduate, they then are hired as employees for various news organizations, or they may work as a freelancer.

Less common is when a person works their way into a news photographer job. They may submit their photography to various news organizations, which may then pay them to purchase the rights and print the photograph. With enough of these published clips, a photographer may be able to land a job based upon a portfolio they put together. With the advent of the Internet, there is more of an arena and more options for a aspiring news photographer. The person can even start their own blog, which features their photography.

The business of news photography can be an exciting one to enter. News photographers work in a wide variety of situations -- everywhere from war zones to high school sports tournaments. With a little effort, a person can find a job that is a good fit for them.