Every form of media these days seems to get a fair chunk of its material from what is known as “user-generated content”. Although this is a fairly impenetrable piece of jargon, what it actually means is that the media outlets use stories, photographs and comments that are sent to them by viewers, readers and listeners.
This can be advantageous for burgeoning photographers who are trying to get their names in the eyeline of professional outlets and don’t have the contacts that other freelance photographers may have. If you happen to be in the vicinity of an occasion or an incident that is certain to be in the news, it may be a good idea to get hold of your camera and get to the scene.
The rise of user-generated content has got to such a level that there has been come criticism of both the people sending it and the companies requesting it. It is admittedly disturbing to see footage of an accident or natural disaster where people’s safety, health and lives may be under threat, and to think “If you are on the scene, why aren’t you helping? Put the camera down!”.
If you want to send user-generated content to a newspaper or a TV station and keep hold of your morality, the best bet may be to pick a relatively inoffensive occasion like a parade or a music festival. Once that is done, make sure that your name gets attached to the photo and that you include evidence of this in any portfolio you send to potential employers.
