Post-Digital Photojournalism - JJM466

• Title: Post-Digital Photojournalism
• Czech title: Postdigitální fotožurnalismus
• Guaranteed by: Department of Journalism (23-KZ)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2025
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:1/1, MC [HT]
• Capacity: 17 / 17 (17)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: Mgr. Sandra Lábová, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Sandra Lábová, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

Course Post-Digital Photojournalism is introducing the current situation of visual journalism. With the rise of digital technologies, theoreticians started to describe the era as post-photographic, as the death of traditional photography. Now, twenty years later it is obvious, that visual messages are more powerful than ever. This course will introduce today's condition of visual journalism. Students will learn about the transition from traditional, film-based photography to digital imaging, to the current post-digital condition. Part of the course are also practical assignments, which will help to better understand the nature of problems introduced in theoretical lectures. Students will use traditional photo equipment, DSLRs, mobile photojournalism, drone journalism, VR journalism.

MOODLE:
https://dl2.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=6110

Last update: Lábová Sandra, Mgr., Ph.D. (01.10.2025)

Literature

CHAMBERLAIN, Phillip (2017). Drones and Journalism: How the media is making use of unmanned aerial vehicles (Routledge Focus on Journalism Studies) 1st Edition. ISBN-13: 978-1138668782.

LESTER, P., M., ROSS, S., D. (2011). Images that injure [elektronický zdroj]: pictorial stereotypes in the media / Susan Dente Ross and Paul Martin Lester, editors. ISBN 9780313378935.

Kobre, K. (2008). Photojournalism: the professionals' approach. Amsterdam; Boston: Focal Press.

Láb, F. L., & Štefaniková, S. (2017). Photojournalism in Central Europe: Editorial and Working Practices. Nordicom Review, 387-23. doi:10.1515/nor-2017-041.

LANGTON, L. (2009). Photojournalism and today's news: creating visual reality / Loup Langton. ISBN 9781405178976.

PANZER, M. (2005). Things as they are: photojournalism in context since 1955 / by Mary Panzerr ; afterword by Christian Caujolle. ISBN 9781597110365.

RITCHIN, F. (2010). Bending the frame: photojournalism, documentary, and the citizen / Fred Ritchin. ISBN 9781597111201.

WHEELER, T. (2002). Phototruth or photofiction? [electronic resource]: ethics and media imagery in the digital age / Tom Wheeler. ISBN 0805842616.

ZAVOINA, S. C. (2002). Digital photojournalism / Susan C. Zavoina, John H. Davidson. ISBN 0205332404.

 

https://witness.worldpressphoto.org

https://www.worldpressphoto.org/activities/research/state-news-photography-2016

https://www.worldpressphoto.org/news/2016-02-29/world-press-photo-foundation-releases-technical-report-2016-photo-contest

Last update: Němcová Tejkalová Alice, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (19.02.2023)

Requirements to the exam

Requirements: 

1) Active participation in lectures is expected

2) Test covering 1st block (min. 16, max. 30 points) - consists only of the information the class covers.

3) Photo assignments submitted on time - photo story (max. 15 points: 5 points for on-time submission; 10 points for the quality of the assignment)

4) Multimedia collaborative project (max. 25 points; 5 points on time submission; 15 points quality of the project; self contribution - 5 points)

5) Student presentation (max. 5 points - submitted on time)

3) Semestral project - picture story (max. 25 points - 10 points for on-time submission; 15 points for the quality of the assignment) 

Note:  Assignments not submitted via MOODLE on time will automatically receive a reduced score if submitted within one week after the deadline. Submissions made later than a week after the deadline receive automatically 0 points in total.

Final Grading
Successful finishing: at least 51 points.
• over 91 => A
• 81-90 => B
• 71-80 => C
• 61-70 => D
• 51-60 => E
• 0-50 => F

Last update: Lábová Sandra, Mgr., Ph.D. (15.09.2025)

Syllabus

FIRST Block - Photo and Photojournalism Basics

Week 1 (2/10): Course Introduction and Foundations (100 minutes)
Overview of the Course Structure and Objectives
Contemporary photojournalism  

Week 2 (9/10): Technology of photography (100 minutes)
Technology of Photography 
In this week's recommended watch online: Picture Editing 
Extracurricular activities: Darkroom after lunch - Intro (40 minutes) 

Week 3 (16/10): Visual Storytelling Basics (100 minutes)
Aesthetics of Photojournalism and Composition 
Assignment I: Proposal - Photostory 
Extracurricular activities: Darkroom after lunch - first hands-on, first print - photogram (80 minutes)

Week 4 (23/10):  Light and Studio Workshop I (200 minutes)

Week 6 (30/10): External lecturer (200 minutes)
In the week of October 30, an online test covering the basics.

Finishing 1st block (requirements)
1) Online test - scheduled 31 October 
2) 1st Assignment: Photostory, submitted by November 5

SECOND BLOCK - Multimedia Collaborative Project

Week 7 (6/11): Multimedia Collaborative Project I (90 minutes) + 1st Assignment (photostory): feedback (80 minutes)
Lecture - Multimedia project
Discussion:  Multimedia collaborative team project

Week 8 (13/11): Multimedia Collaborative Project II: Preparations (100 minutes)
Extracurricular activities: Negative Process - after lunch (100 minutes)

Week 9  (17/11 and 20/11): Multimedia Collaborative Project III (individual)
17/11 - covering Velvet Revolution
20/11 - Teamwork and consultations upon request 

Week 10 (27/11):  Multimedia Collaborative Project IV - Presentation and Feedback (100 minutes)
Extracurricular activities: Positive process I - Contact print (100 minutes)

Finishing 2nd block (requirements)
1) Multimedia Collaborative Project by November 25
2) Submitting a one-page self-evaluation by November 25

THIRD BLOCK - FINAL PHOTOJOURNALISM PROJECT

Week 11 (4/12): Guest lecture + Final Project I - Photo Essay ; (140 minutes)
Lecture and Assignment instructions
Extracurricular activities: Positive process II - Print

Week  12  (11/12): Final Project II - Photo Essay - discussion (100 minutes)
To be submitted: proposal discussion by December 8
Extracurricular activities: Positive process III - Advanced techniques 

Week 13 (18/12): Student presentation of inspiring contemporary photojournalistic work (100 minutes) 
+ Student presentation consultations upon request 

Week 14 (8/1/2026): Fakery and ethics in photojournalism
Available online
+ Student presentation consultations upon request 

January 2026: Final Project III - Finals (exact dates TBA in December 2025)

Finishing 3rd block (requirements)
1) Delivering Final Project - Photo Essay (in January)
2) Student Presentation (December 17)

Last update: Lábová Sandra, Mgr., Ph.D. (01.10.2025)