The trade journal Professional photo spoke with Zeitenspiegel photographer Frank Schultze about the current state and future of photojournalism. His assessment is far from rosy. And Zeitenspiegel is „a home port in rough seas.“.
„We are, so to speak, exposed to free fall in the media landscape, unprotected,“ said Frank Schultze in Professional photo- Interview. In the December 2024 issue, the long-time member of the agency soberly describes the situation in his profession. The Dortmund native, who has received numerous awards throughout his career, connects the current conditions with the transformation of media and especially print products. However, he also notes: „However, from the very beginning, such low fees were paid that more extensive research was no longer worthwhile.“
He said that the golden age of visual journalism was already over when he started in photography. „Therefore, I am used to hardship. Many colleagues have thrown in the towel.“ He views the future of freelance visual journalism pessimistically. „One thing is clear: there is still very good journalistic photography, and it will continue to be needed. The hunger for images has even grown, fueled by digitalization“; „flood of images“ is the keyword.
Of course, there isn't just this flood. Schultze said about his agency: „Zeitenspiegel has always been something like a safe harbor in rough seas for me. I believe that, the way we are set up, we've been able to weather some storms for almost 40 years now. Because we, as a collective of photographers and writers, work together like an editorial team, we can also develop journalistic ideas and implement independent projects.“
For the complete Professional photo-Interview time here.