The visual journalist as a social entrepreneur
The desire to effect social change has influenced the work of photographers since the nascent years of the medium. There is ample historical proof that pictures can influence change. In New York City in the late 1800s, journalist Jacob Riis used photography to expose the appalling living conditions in the city’s tenements. Riis’ visceral photographs of overcrowded slums revealed the wretched existence of thousands of New Yorkers. Horrified and shamed by what they saw, citizens advocated for change forcing politicians to take action. These pictures proved the power of photography as a critical mirror for society.
