Medill Cherubs 2008

James Bourne went where other journalism students were afraid to go: through windows, behind trees and up in people’s faces. But he went there with his camera.

“I like to document, and photos are a good way to remember things that happened,” Bourne, of Los Angeles, said.

Although the National High School Institute journalism program focuses on reporting and writing, students heard from several professional photojournalists and were encouraged to sharpen their multimedia skills.

Alex Fledderjohn, photojournalist and co-founder of Tu Multimedia, a company specializing in telling stories through visual and audio communication, taught students about the basics of photojournalism.

“The challenge of finding beauty in everyday life is exciting, motivating and mesmerizing,” Fledderjohn said. “I enjoy looking for those moments that make pictures significant.”

Fledderjohn explained the appeal of a job in which he documents events visually.

“When the composition comes together, or there’s a telling moment, hunting those moments makes me tick,” he said.

Students learned about such design elements as leading lines, layers and framing. Fledderjohn shared examples of his work, including a college thesis that was published in National Geographic and made into a book.

“It was significant to my career because I was made legitimate and taken more seriously,” Fledderjohn said. “Doors flew open after that.”

But students don’t need to publish a book or run in National Geographic to be successful photojournalists, Fledderjohn said.

“The most important thing to have is an appreciation for the craft and a desire to make it your profession,” he said. “If you do your best, the money will come.”

In a field where jobs are diminishing, some students are worried that the money won’t come. Fledderjohn also advised students on how to handle a changing media industry: be flexible.

“It’s a bad time to be in newspaper,” Fledderjohn said. “Companies are downsizing, and photographers are the first to go. They’re looking for people who are the jack of all trades, that can fill three spots in a newsroom with one body.”

This was good news for Bourne, whose goal is to become a foreign correspondent. He said his photography skills will help him throughout his career.

“I see myself possibly having to shoot my own video and definitely having to take my own photos,” Bourne said. “Journalism is a visual business.”

Bourne also emphasized the importance of the marriage of photography and writing.

“A photo without writing can be misleading, but writing without a photo can also be misleading,” Bourne said. “People want to visualize what they’re reading.”