So a few days ago I read this interview between Olivier Laurent, the editor of the TIME LightBox and the new managing director of World Press Photo, Lars Boering.
It was a really interesting, and gives a lot of insight into what World Press hopes to achieve in the future. I like that Boering wants to help create solutions for photojournalists, and that there is an idea to make the organization more of a “think tank for photography”.
A few things really struck me about the interview, but this stood out: Boering said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if we’d end up in partnerships with technology companies in the future. I think that what they do is very interesting, and they also make us realize that there’s a huge place for photojournalism in their world.” He was referring directly to Apple, Facebook and Instagram as the big boys, but I think this also very much refers to places like Vignette Interactive, which already incorporate technology, media and journalism. We know what it takes to get the message out there these days, and it’s not just about creating a good photo essay, or a good video, but it’s about how it’s presented and disseminated. Of course everyone should use these new tools, and media orgs are getting it (some slower than others), but places like NGOs and charities are also realizing they have to get in on the technology/media game. It’s all about integration: website, apps, data visualization, in addition to the traditional ways of telling stories. And we at Vignette are happy that this is being talked about at places like World Press Photo. This is a conversation that has been going on already for several years but now it feels like everyone is really taking notice and it gets more credibility with interviews like this. We look forward to what happens next!
