“One picture could put us out of business” – Nana Grey-Johnson

By Amie Taylor The School of Journalism and Digital Media on Thursday the 6th held a seminar on fashion journalism, beauty and photography at the UTG Faculty Auditorium. The theme “Building a career in journalism focus on beauty, fashion & photography” was used to highlight the diversity in journalism. The event accommodated two guests from the UK. “And here we are, in the School of Journalism, teaching you how to write when one picture could put us out of business”, said Mr Nana Grey-Johnson, Dean of School of Journalism and Digital Media. He explained that one picture taken by photographer is worth a thousand words and therefore could shut down a media house because of its content. He further explained that the great turn out of events is that photography is actually here to make journalism easier. “Rather photography is here to make our work easier, not to put the newspaper out of business”, he added. “That is the role of the press photographers, to help reporters make visual descriptions that might not exist in vocabulary”, he emphasised. According to Mr Grey-Johnson, the event is an opportunity for some of the Journalism students to find their calling and that students will be exposed to the best and the brightest. “To get into the industry [fashion, photography], you need to have more than an interest, you need to have an obsession,” stated Richard Yaw, CEO of Koshmo Photography. Mr Yaw added that a person who shows an obsession towards something is determined. “And that obsession means that you study it, follow it, surround yourself around those that are doing it because they inspire you to aspire to inspire somebody else”, he further explained. According to Irene Shelley, Editor of Black Beauty and Hair Magazine, print is going through a tough time. She lamented that the advancement of technology has caused the reduction of print readers. “However, I do believe that print will come back because people like holding stuff [printed documents]”, she added. Mr Momodou Sabally, former Managing Director of The Observer, stated that the students should grow interest in reading in order to become best at what they are doing. “If you want to be a good writer, you’ve got to be a good reader”, he emphasised. “I hope this seminar will be the platform for pricking interests, discovery of horizons and steady growth towards capacity and creativity”, added Mr Grey-Johnson.]]>