For the first time in its history, French newspaper Libération has printed an edition in which all photographs have been removed.
Unveiled last week on 14 November 2013, which was also Paris Photo’s opening day, these empty frames show that images are essential to news reportage.
This deliberate act serves to show the importance of photography in journalism, be it in print or digital forms. The newspaper is also protesting against the “calamitous situation” faced by press photographers—many have been laid off as some news agencies prefer to ask journalists to take pictures with their iPhones instead.
Although this action may be extreme, it does serve to prove that we are relying on images more than ever to convey information, and that professional photography is still important for effective communication in media.
[via BJP Online]