news in focus


have targeted the Persgroep, the largest Dutch media group, and the Amsterdam offices of the Telegraaf Media Group. Nominees at the Silver Camera awards for photography wore a small button with a symbol of a camera to show their support. The NVJ believes action is already


paying dividends. Freelances no longer feel powerless against large media companies. Talks have reopened with ANP and Persgroep. The union hopes other companies will join the discussions. Brinkhorst says: “They cannot ignore us any more and pick off individuals – we are united. We have opened conversations that were closed.” Like their Dutch counterparts, UK


Dutch freelances have united to fight plummeting pay rates. Natasha Hirst and Tony Sheldon report


n the bitter cold in The Hague amid snow flurries, 250 freelance photographers gathered to protest


With anger growing, the NVJ decided


about plummeting pay rates. It was a good turnout and, for each person present, another freelance photographer elsewhere was forgoing work to go on strike. Although numbers were strong


– half the Dutch photojournalist profession – the age range was limited. Rotterdam photographer Peter gesticulated in front of Dutch press agency ANP where the demonstration was held: “Look around here – do you see anybody aged under 30? This profession is dying.” The NVJ Dutch journalists’ union is seeking to protect photojournalism by achieving, through collective bargaining, pay rates that can sustain the profession. Anecdotal evidence suggests that average rates per photo have virtually halved from €80 in 2014 to €42 today.


8 | theJournalist


last autumn to launch a campaign – Photojournalism Has a Price. It included independent data showing rates for photographs in 2017 were 67 per cent of those in 2014. Members of the NVF, the NVJ’s photography division, were then shocked further by plans, announced following the merger of ANP with photo agency Hollandse Hoogte, for day rates to be halved in return for retaining rights to photos. The NVF called four regional meetings to assess the mood and received a strong response. Soon, 200 members were backing action. Next, officials phoned members to urge them to register for the national demonstration in The Hague, offering them €95 in strike pay. NVF chair, photographer Eric


Photoshock I


Brinkhorst, told The Journalist: “It was a hell of a job. We called all 708 members. Some just needed a minute – others you really had to convince. But I only had one person who refused.” Since the demonstration, actions


“ ”


They cannot ignore us and pick off individuals – we are united. We have opened conversations that were closed


photojournalists are dealing with falling rates, relentless copyright breaches and increasing expectations to do more for less. Those struggling to make a living as professional photographers (who are overwhelmingly freelance) can feel addressing these issues is impossible. Staff photographer cuts in the past 10


years have been compounded by large publishers seeking out user-generated content, using images without payment and undermining the ability of professional photographers to secure work. The NUJ Photographers’ Council led the #UseItPayForIt campaign to promote the value of professional photography and encourage amateurs to seek payment for their work instead of giving it away. British Photographic Council research in 2009 showed that fewer than two out of three professional photographers were able to earn a living from the industry full time and this was expected to get worse. The State of News Photography 2018 report, by the World Press Photo Foundation and the University of Stirling, bears that prediction out, highlighting a huge drop in full-time photographers. For the future, it is crucial to protect


the integrity of our industry and the ability of members to earn a living. Will the Dutch campaign galvanise UK photographers into action here? Brinkhorst is proud of attracting


attention from the UK as well as from Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Germany. “We still need all the attention we can get. We haven’t achieved anything yet, but we can.”


Natasha Hirst is chair of the NUJ’s Photographers’ Council and Tony Sheldon is chair of the union’s Netherlands’ branch


FNV


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28