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photojournalism

American  
[foh-toh-jur-nl-iz-uhm] / ˌfoʊ toʊˈdʒɜr nlˌɪz əm /

noun

  1. journalism in which photography dominates written copy, as in certain magazines.

  2. news photography, whether or not for primarily pictorial media, publications, or stories.


photojournalism British  
/ ˌfəʊtəʊˈdʒɜːnəˌlɪzəm /

noun

  1. journalism in which photographs are the predominant feature

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of photojournalism

First recorded in 1940–45; photo- + journalism


Explanation

If you see a reporter with a camera, she probably works in the field of photojournalism, the presentation of news and current events visually, using images instead of words. The word photojournalism was coined in the mid-20th century and refers to a cross between journalism and photography. A photographer whose interest lies in reporting, telling true stories about current events by taking pictures of them, will enjoy photojournalism. While a print journalist might interview people and write a story about a war, a photojournalist will try to capture images of the war and the people and places affected by it.

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Vocabulary lists containing photojournalism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The film's director, Alina Marazzi, said their work was part of the "golden age of photojournalism."

From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026

Dan received his B.S. in photojournalism from Syracuse University in 2020 and attended the 2022 Kalish Workshop at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026

He is excited to be back home in Southern California, joining the team as a photojournalism intern.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2025

His photojournalism, deliberately intended to prick the consciences of the Victorian middle classes, included a poignant picture of a destitute woman in Covent Garden, taken in 1877 and entitled 'The Crawlers'.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2024

On a dedicated website, she merged traditional photojournalism with a diary-like documentary style, incorporating photography, poetry, audio clips and music.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 18, 2024

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