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The Photo Journalist (1959-01-17)
About this film
Louis Lyons hosts this series of programs that discuss the problems and performance of the American Press in reporting leading questions of the day. Guests: W. Eugene Smith; Photojournalist, Magnum Photos, Life Magazine (1943-1954); Dan Weiner, Photojournalist, contributor to New York Times, Fortune, and Colliers; Cast: Penn Kimball; Lillian Balboni; Donald Born; Bob Jones. Discussed is Weiner?s work photographing the Montgomery Alabama Bus Strike, its organizer Dr. Martin Luther King, and both supporters and opponents of the strike. Weiner notes that he was ultimately disappointed with the photo series, because his photos were used out of context, thereby lessening what Weiner sees as their historical importance. Touching on a common theme of the series, that of the journalistic mandate clashing with the social, cultural, and educational mores of its audience, Weiner discusses three subjects photojouranalists are dissuaded from covering: Geriatics; Africa; and Eastern Europe. He conceeds that print journalists cover the subjects, but that photographs are often avoided when stories are written about these topics. Smith warns of the dangers he sees in the ability of photojournalism…
Directors & creators
WGBH
Subjects
W. Eugene Smith, photojournalism, Life magazine, Magnum Photos, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Martin Luther King Jr., Dan Weiner, Little Rock school crisis, 1957 Little Rock, press ethics, documentary photography, context in journalism, Africa coverage, Eastern Europe press, WGBH, Louis Lyons
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