NUJ useitpayforit Photo Camapaign

[Sardonixs]

THough I would highlight this campaign that the NUJ is running as its becoming a more common issue.

https://www.nuj.org.uk/campaigns/useitpayforit/

Increasingly more and more news organisations are asking people if they can use pictures people post on social media (for free) as long as they give them 'credit'.  Apart from the fact that if you are lucky enough to take a picture that generates interest from news organisations you are entitled to make some money from it.  They still have to give you 'credit' but you also get a bit of money in your pocket.  If you are one of the lucky ones this could be in the 4 figures (there are some examples in the article).

But the bigger problem is for photographers who make a living from taking pictures at newsworthy events.  If the media outlets can get pictures for free then why do they need to buy the pictures from the photographers?  If not careful news photography will go the way of stock photography where the income that can be made is too low for photographers to make a living from it.