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General Discussion / 2020 NPOY rule added
« Last post by Crystal Schick on January 09, 2021, 09:03 PM »Since the NPAC/APPC 2020 National Pictures of the Year contest has opened, concerns have been brought to us by photojournalists that work in all aspects of our industry regarding the issue of photographers in positions that grant them unique access. And since our post last night about there being no rule against how photographs are made or access obtained, we have heard from many people with opinions on the subject.
A general consensus among those who have voiced their concerns is that while some of this work may otherwise conform to a high journalistic standard in terms of honesty and integrity, it is created in conditions that have been specially accommodated to the photographer, and release of the images controlled by the employing body.
After further discussion and some research, we as council agree. The NPAC/APPC will therefore be adding the following to the 2020 National Pictures of the Year contest rules:
"Photos captured in the employ of or commissioned by an organization, including but not limited to governments, government agencies, corporations, or sports teams, where access is restricted to or unique access is granted to that photographer, can not be entered."
While we live in a time of flux for our industry and photojournalists are pushed to find new revenue models for themselves, we feel it is important to maintain this line in the interest of journalism in Canada, and in the interest of protecting the role of the editorial photojournalist.
A general consensus among those who have voiced their concerns is that while some of this work may otherwise conform to a high journalistic standard in terms of honesty and integrity, it is created in conditions that have been specially accommodated to the photographer, and release of the images controlled by the employing body.
After further discussion and some research, we as council agree. The NPAC/APPC will therefore be adding the following to the 2020 National Pictures of the Year contest rules:
"Photos captured in the employ of or commissioned by an organization, including but not limited to governments, government agencies, corporations, or sports teams, where access is restricted to or unique access is granted to that photographer, can not be entered."
While we live in a time of flux for our industry and photojournalists are pushed to find new revenue models for themselves, we feel it is important to maintain this line in the interest of journalism in Canada, and in the interest of protecting the role of the editorial photojournalist.