49er keeps pace with technology

While the Cal State Long Beach journalism department closes its photo option, the Daily Forty-Niner is updating its photographic technology, including camera equipment.

The newspaper is moving toward digital photography, according to Dr. William A. Mulligan, print journalism option head and publisher of the Daily Forty-Niner.

"We have an ongoing plan to keep up with the latest technology in the business.  Photo is just part of it," Mulligan said. "Going digital is a priority for the paper at this point.

"The newspaper industry itself will be completely out of the film business within 12 months. There is no need any longer for us to be behind what the industry is doing."

Photo quality is not a primary concern for Mulligan.  He understands that quality is better with the use of film, but getting images sooner and not dealing with chemicals are more relevant concerns, he said.

Recently retired journalism professor and photojournalism option head Wayne F. Kelly responded in an e-mail he believes going digital is the thing to do, but he doesn't believe the equipment the Forty-Niner is going to use will even be close to the professionalism they had in the past.

Kelly started the CSULB photojournalism program in 1976 and he taught in the department for 23 years.

"We were looking at Nikon D1 but the equipment is quite expensive so now we are also looking at alternatives," Mulligan said.  "Other camera companies are making bodies that are compatible with Nikon lenses which are presently used in 35mm equipment and the Forty-Niner already owns."

Many publications are using digital cameras now, as well as videotape, which is another option he supports, Mulligan said.

"We have tried videotape and sound on the Online Forty-Niner and it was successful," Mulligan said.

Modern equipment and technology do not seem to be a problem for the daily student newspaper, but the lack of trained photographers might be.

"Since the department is closing the photo option the Forty-Niner has a problem that has to be resolved regarding photos for the paper," Mulligan said. "We will continue having a photo editor and a chief photographer. We will also supplement our staff with freelance work or other photo services."

The journalism department will still offer at least two photo courses for interested students, including print journalism majors, according to Mulligan.

The Daily Forty-Niner will also send the fall photo editor to a training session in August in Colorado to learn the new technology, Mulligan said.

"Our photo editor will come back to our program and will be expected to pass all that knowledge to the other staff photographers," Mulligan said.

But Kelly said he disagrees with the idea of hiring freelancers to shoot photos for the paper.

"Problem here is there is no control over them.  They may or may not show up for assignments."

Kelly's concerns also include freelancers' photojournalism experience and education.

"In the past I tried to let freelancers go on staff with the simple requirement that they take the intermediate photojournalism course so they would have some idea of what to shoot.  All refused because most want to freelance so they can get into events free and have front row access to the action.  Not a very good reason for a photojournalist," Kelly said.

"Freelancers usually have little idea of what to shoot on assignments. They snap what is before them, so the paper ends up with a number of amateur snapshots."

Most freelancers think all photojournalists have to do to cover a story is be there and point the camera, according to Kelly.

"Having said this I don't think the paper has much choice.  Since the photo program has been dismantled there are no photojournalist types coming into the department.  Obviously the paper needs pictures, but they most now suffer the consequences because the department has basically shifted from a professional photo training program to amateur," Kelly said.

The Daily Forty-Niner needs to have photos, and even without the photo option providing the staff needed, it will try to keep quality, Mulligan said.

"We will always expect that people who work in the newspaper to either take classes or professional training at some point.  We will only accept those photographs that meet professional standards for publication," Mulligan said.

The photo option set up a very strong foundation and standards for the Daily Forty-Niner, according to Mulligan.

"The photo option itself might not be producing students with journalism degrees, but we will still see students enrolled in the program who have an interest in photojournalism and who will continue the profession," Mull-igan said.  "There is a tremendous demand for people who can shoot photographs as well as write stories."

The Daily Forty-Niner is also planning to expand its online production, according to Mulligan.  "We will start out next fall with at least two people working in the online production and we will have more later if necessary."

The newspaper market is very competitive, Mulligan said. "The public does not judge the Forty-Niner from the stand-point of a student publication.  It is judged as a professional publication and we have to maintain the quality or make it better."