VISUAL JOURNALISM TOOLKIT
This free visual journalism toolkit is for newsroom staff who work with visuals.
It includes guidance on how to find diverse photographers, develop clear contracts, create search-optimized image libraries, use vetted stock resources, harness visuals to increase revenue and much more. It also emphasizes equitable working conditions to promote sustainability and diversity in the industry, which are cornerstones of Prism Photo’s mission.
Enter your email below for PDF versions of our templates and guides, discount codes for archiving software and updates to the visual journalism toolkit:
Find Diverse Freelancers
Photojournalism can be a tool to see all the varied stories of the world or one that reinforces the status quo of a homogenous society. That’s why the diversity of people behind the camera matters: who they are affects which stories are told and how.
Below, you can access U.S. and international photographer databases, which help newsrooms hire photojournalists who reflect the communities they cover. Also, use our freelancer intake form to create your own database.
Work with Visual Journalists
Streamlining the onboarding processes and assignment workflows leads to fewer follow-up emails, phone calls and mistakes. Offering plain-spoken contracts provides clarity, protection and accountability for both parties, leading to more trust and long-term relationships between newsrooms and the journalists they commission.
Manage Content
Use captions and keywords to build a search-optimized library, which enables you to find and use past images with ease. This is useful when looking for images for future newsletters, social media or stories that include public figures who have already been photographed. Review options for stock photography and AI-generated images resources and learn about the positives and challenges of working with both.
Harness Visuals for Engagement & Revenue
News organizations can further return on their investments in visuals by developing projects that directly increase engagement and revenue. Access two case studies you can replicate in your own newsrooms.
Visual Journalism is Essential.
Photojournalism is a vital part of local news because it drives reader engagement, increases revenue and tells stories in ways other media cannot. Studies show that images impact emotions faster and more powerfully than words and that stories with visuals garner 94% more total views.
Yet, many local news organizations lack dedicated visual staff – like directors of photography, photo editors and photojournalists – able to create and maximize the use of impactful, quality visual journalism. This absence of visual expertise can diminish newsrooms’ return on their investments in journalism and can limit how and if audiences engage with their reporting.
Our toolkit bridges that gap by providing guidance for editors managing visuals. The practical resources in our toolkit equip newsrooms with the knowledge needed to manage visuals to grow audiences, increase revenue and improve community trust in media.
Diversity and Equity
The toolkit emphasizes diversity and equity. Photojournalists are often the only newsroom representatives on the ground. If they reflect the diversity of communities newsrooms cover, they can provide nuanced coverage and build community trust.
Read more about the importance of diversity in visual journalism in our Reynolds Journalism Institute article.
As newsrooms increasingly rely on visuals made by freelance photojournalists they must invest in them through training, equitable contracts and livable wages. Otherwise, newsrooms will soon experience a dearth of trained photojournalists, especially those from more diverse backgrounds.
The diversity and sustainability of the photojournalism industry is at a crossroads. The everyday choices that newsrooms make now around visuals will lay the groundwork for what the industry will look like for years to come.
More Information:
If you know of additional resources we should include in the toolkit, would like to provide feedback, collaborate or raise specific questions or topics that you would like to be included, please email info@prismphotoworkshop.org.
We also collaborate with local newsrooms to offer tailored practical resources for working with visuals. If you are interested in our services, reach out to info@prismphotoworkshop.org.
To learn more about our research, how we built the toolkit and related articles, visit About the Toolkit.
Enter your email below for PDF versions of our templates and guides, discount codes for archiving software and updates to the visual journalism toolkit:
Toolkit Highlights
-
Photojournalist databases
These U.S. & international databases enable the hiring of photojournalists who reflect the communities newsrooms cover.
-
Freelancer intake form
Use our form to build your own local database to inform who you commission for a particular assignment.
-
Tools to build search-optimized image archives
Establishing a search-optimized library is essential to maximizing newsroom investment in visual storytelling.
-
Freelancer onboarding recommendations
To streamline your onboarding process, we suggest one document outlining expectations, workflow & links to resources.
-
Contract terms & templates
Plain-spoken contracts provide clarity, protection & accountability for both parties, leading to more trust and long-term relationships with freelancers.
-
Increase engagement & revenue resources
Maximize your newsroom’s investment in visual journalism by harnessing photographs to reach new funding & broader audiences.
Donate
Your tax-deductible donation will help the Workshop offer resources to visual journalists from traditionally underrepresented communities through grants, scholarships, mentoring and our annual live workshop. Contributions at any level are welcome.