The sourcing of amateur photographs in the professional news media

The thesis investigates the significance of amateur photography for the professional news media by examining when, how and why amateur photographs are sourced and published in the news. Thus, the thesis addresses a shift in photographic production, distribution and style that has been influenced by the wide-scale presence of amateur content online. Theoretically, this phenomenon calls into question the photojournalist's privileged claim to the visual representation of events, and what qualifies as history-making documentation within the public imaginary. The thesis contributes to debates on the future of the news industry and the professional approach to content-making in the context of today's changing media landscape.