Looking forward: meet the next generation of photojournalists

"We need to tell nice stories, and it begins with you," says Thomas Borberg, Photo Editor-in-Chief at Politiken, Denmark. He was one of many industry figures brought to Visa pour l'Image 2018 in Perpignan, France, as part of the Canon Student Programme to inspire and educate a future generation of photojournalists.

In a world where people turn to image-led digital channels more and more, photojournalists have an increasingly important role in keeping the public informed. But in this rapidly-changing media landscape, with limited funding and reduced practical training opportunities, the future of photojournalism is changing, too.

With traditional sources being replaced with the likes of WePresent – a sister company of the better-known file transfer service WeTransfer – commissioning photojournalists in a more traditional capacity for its platform, she highlighted the need for students to broaden their minds and their markets when pitching content.

"By giving students access to practical advice from working professional photographers, commissioning editors and agency representatives, we hope to give them the advantage in this competitive market," says Canon's Richard Shepherd, Pro Marketing Manager at Canon Europe Ltd. "The future of photojournalism, and storytelling, is as exciting as ever – we hope that exposure to these influential figures will help more young photographers launch their careers."

The drive to document

Today's young photojournalists have similar motivations to the generations before them. They want to document and critique the world through their lens. "I come from architecture – I started to photograph architecture and then started to move to photojournalism when I was doing my thesis in Lebanon," says Michele Spatari, a student in the Programme who studies at the ISFCI in Rome, Italy – and has already won recognition from Canon as a rising star.

"The main attraction to photojournalism was the ability to see and understand some critical issues about people and their spaces – that was really interesting to me."

The topic is firmly in the minds of the younger generation. "I feel good about being a woman in this industry," says Si. "Here, when they are talking about photojournalists, they mostly talk about men. There are amazing female photojournalists but they're not mentioned as much because there are fewer of us – I hope that will keep changing. I'm happy to be a part of that change as a woman."

With Thomas Borberg talking about the basics of developing and pitching stories to photo editors, and Daniel Etter talking about the uncertainty and emotional impact of witnessing devastation, the programme was broad and wide in its ambitions and coverage.

"It's an intense, honest review, which is what I was looking for," says Michele. "My biggest learning has been to dedicate more to a single long-term project that I can develop. I had the chance to talk at length with a long-term photographer who I admire: Daniel Etter. That's not an opportunity that comes around often."

It hasn't all been about inspiration – it's also been an exercise in fortification, motivating students to withstand the inevitable struggles they face along the path to success. "You are allowed to fail," reassured Thomas Borberg. "You're young and you have to try things out. Allow yourself to be incompetent and to ask questions, and do things that aren't right, and embrace them. It sounds easy but it's actually very difficult to do."