Picture editor to photojournalist
A picture editor already meets 50% of what the photojournalist role asks for. The move turns on 12 required skills not yet in the profile.
58.6/ 100
1 How much of what a photojournalist is expected to do is already part of a picture editor’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the photojournalist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A photojournalist role treats 14 of its required skills as things a picture editor already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adapt to type of media
- build contacts to maintain news flow
- consult information sources
- copyright legislation
- develop professional network
- editorial standards
What stands in the way is 12 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 24 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A photojournalist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a picture editor background worth leading with.
- already held select photographic equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held set up photographic equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held maintain photographic equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held use photographic equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held select camera apertures working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held follow newspaper house style assisting and caring
All 24 carried skills, including the 14 the photojournalist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 27 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn evaluate writings in response to feedback required
- still to learn interview people required
- still to learn use specific writing techniques required
- still to learn apply grammar and spelling rules required
- optional, not held direct photographic workers optional
- optional, not held follow directions of on-site director optional
- optional, not held maintain an artistic portfolio optional
- optional, not held write captions optional
- optional, not held write headlines optional
- optional, not held adapt to changing situations optional
- optional, not held develop film optional
- still to learn grammar required
- still to learn spelling required
- still to learn writing techniques required
- still to learn stay up to date with social media required
- still to learn study topics required
- optional, not held check correctness of information optional
- optional, not held manage writing administration optional
- optional, not held test photographic equipment optional
- still to learn digital journalism required
- still to learn interview techniques required
- still to learn write to a deadline required
- optional, not held manage personal finances optional
- optional, not held manage personal professional development optional
- optional, not held audio editing software optional
2 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a photojournalist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 digital journalism study this
- 02 evaluate writings in response to feedback practise this
- 03 interview people practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 24 skills that carry over
- already held adapt to type of media skill
- already held build contacts to maintain news flow skill
- already held consult information sources skill
- already held copyright legislation knowledge
- already held develop professional network skill
- already held editorial standards knowledge
- already held follow ethical code of conduct of journalists skill
- already held follow the news skill
- already held meet deadlines skill
- already held participate in editorial meetings skill
- already held photography knowledge
- already held select camera apertures skill
- already held select photographic equipment skill
- already held set up photographic equipment skill
- already held create online news content skill
- already held edit digital moving images skill
- already held edit negatives skill
- already held edit photographs skill
- already held follow newspaper house style skill
- already held maintain photographic equipment skill
- already held perform image editing skill
- already held perform video editing skill
- already held press law knowledge
- already held use photographic equipment skill
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held edit recorded sound optional
- optional, not held record multi-track sound optional
15 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held check correctness of information optional
- optional, not held direct photographic workers optional
- optional, not held edit recorded sound optional
- optional, not held follow directions of on-site director optional
- optional, not held maintain an artistic portfolio optional
- optional, not held manage personal finances optional
- optional, not held manage writing administration optional
- optional, not held record multi-track sound optional
- optional, not held test photographic equipment optional
- optional, not held write captions optional
- optional, not held write headlines optional
- optional, not held adapt to changing situations optional
- optional, not held audio editing software optional
- optional, not held develop film optional
- optional, not held manage personal professional development optional
24 held skills the photojournalist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role ICT software specifications knowledge
- not needed by the target role apply desktop publishing techniques skill
- not needed by the target role check stories skill
- not needed by the target role colour grade images with digital intermediate skill
- not needed by the target role consult with editor skill
- not needed by the target role create editorial board skill
- not needed by the target role create rough cut skill
- not needed by the target role desktop publishing knowledge
- not needed by the target role determine image composition skill
- not needed by the target role digital content creation skill
- not needed by the target role graphic design knowledge
- not needed by the target role manage budgets skill
- not needed by the target role motion graphics knowledge
- not needed by the target role multimedia systems knowledge
- not needed by the target role negotiate exploitation rights skill
- not needed by the target role perform backups skill
- not needed by the target role post-processing of photographs knowledge
- not needed by the target role recruit employees skill
- not needed by the target role search for a suitable filming location skill
- not needed by the target role select photos skill
- not needed by the target role supervise staff skill
- not needed by the target role supervise work skill
- not needed by the target role use presentation software skill
- not needed by the target role use word processing software skill
6 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn digital journalism required
- still to learn grammar required
- still to learn interview techniques required
- still to learn spelling required
- still to learn writing techniques required
- optional, not held audio editing software optional
Common questions about this move
Can a picture editor become a photojournalist?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A picture editor already covers 50% of what a photojournalist is expected to do: 24 skills carry over, 14 of which the photojournalist role treats as required.
What skills does a picture editor need to become a photojournalist?
12 required skills are missing, plus 15 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is digital journalism.
How hard is the move from picture editor to photojournalist?
Its learning distance is 58.6 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.