Let's not overlook 'it's f/8 and be there'. Amateurs are 'there' and get some shots; but might not have the technical skills to get optimal shots that tell the story, or tell a story. How many 'amateur' shots have you seen that leave you pondering why the shot was taken? If everybody can take photographs....great; but not everybody can tell a/the story with images. We need photographers who have something to say using images. And get the images technically ok. Some amateurs fit this profile; ALL professionals fit the profile.

Yes this is a serious problem in Nepal. The thing is non-journalists have infiltrated everything from television talk shows to newspaper columns. They are literally littering media with non-issues, thus giving a leash of life to successive governments, leaving the nation a poor in every respect. They come up with all the wrong questions leaving viewers angry for not asking the right question. This has literally driven the talented journalists out in the cold, with even promoters of the television and newspapers blissfully ignorant of the quality or lack of it .

I dont see citizen photojournalism or amateaur photographer being an issue to be worried about, the diference will always be there it is left for the media pratitioner to decide on the type of photographs to appear on their papers., however, amateaur photographer can be accomodated.

Even journalists with cameras find it difficult to take shots.

It is true that the amateur are taking over the industry in West Africa. Editors have failed over the years to identify or separate professional work from the unprofessional ones so anyone at all takes a picture and it is used without considering the information it carries and the professional input. Both amateur and the professional photojournalists can co-exist but there should be deference when it cames to journalism. Editors should change the way of understanding picture so as to be able to attach some importance to professional works. Organizers of fellowships should also find away of including
photojournalists in their programs, creating the opportunities for them to upgrade themselves and enhance
their works. It is sad that I subscribed to to this network for years but not
a single week do I ever find any fellowship program for photojournalists. So can I say you yourselves are also discriminating against the photojournalists. And a photojournalist have to lie about his profession to lets say "environmental journalist" before getting the opportunity in a fellowship ?. I think the situation is very bad in Ghana and I think future of photojournalism would die in no time. The attitude of thinking that photography is 'just clicking
and the photo is made' should discouraged for the profession to gain its importance in news coverage. Accra, Ghana.

Off course we need both. We cannot leave one thing to works on it own. Even children toys need some one to fix, play, etc., You cannot do it alone. Even scientists cannot do on his or her own. He or She has to use the scientific tools to make his or her works successful.

Even, photojournalists need to used both the person's behind the cameras and the cameras used by the photographers'.

During our times attended the lectures in one of local institution, our lecturer was asking the undergraduate on the aspect of preserving. He questioned us. "How did you preserved your eggs?". So, the intellect undergraduates spontaneously answered the lecturer question. Preserve it with silica gel, Sir!, the other gave another answer..put it in the freezer, Sir. Well, undergraduates, I asked you how you preserved your eggs. Don't you all hang your eggs....So, to preserve the amateur and professional photojournalists are to make both parties to have mutual understanding and respect by transferring of knowledges and experiences in taking pictures. Thanks for sharing the little jokes I made as to boost brain activation for the International Center For Journalists fellow friends around the world. Please don't forget to look this website please to compare the truths of real life of the plight of the poor people on the east coast of Sabah in Malaysia. The website is www.royalsulu.com.