LIFE, liberty & the pursuit of visual happiness : the development of documentary journalism, from magazine picture stories to Netflix serials

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This Master's thesis examined what makes photo-journalists fulfilled professionally in the digital video space. Internet video journalism is the latest iteration in the development of visual communication that has its roots all the way back at the invention of photography. Later iterations included the motion picture, the documentary, the picture stories of LIFE magazine and National Geographic, and photo essays by the Magnum collective. The video medium is now accessible "by advances in technology and economics" to anyone that wants to tell a story, because they can record video with a smartphone in their pocket. This thesis examined whether photo-journalists, with their keen visual awareness, and knack for storytelling, are uniquely positioned to become documentary filmmakers on new mediums as photojournalism continues its delicate dance through the 21st Century. Six visual journalists were used as subjects for this research, using qualitative interviews to study what visual stories bring them professional fulfillment, and why they believe their methods are successful. This research examined the challenges they face telling stories with digital video, explains the data's limitations, offers conclusions, and proposes ideas for further research. Finally, three common themes were gleaned from this research, and they echo throughout the history of visual storytelling.