Critical Photojournalism: Contemporary Ethics & Practices

We’re excited to announce the release of Critical Photojournalism: Contemporary Ethics & Practices, a groundbreaking new book by Judy Walgren and Tara Pixley that reimagines how visual journalism can—and should—be practiced today.

At the heart of the book is a bold new framework: an ethic of care. Rather than treating photojournalism purely as a tool for documenting events, Walgren and Pixley argue for a more mindful, responsible approach—one that prioritizes accuracy and storytelling while also reducing harm to collaborators, communities, and photojournalists themselves.

Blending theory with practice, Critical Photojournalism equips readers with the essential skills needed to succeed in today’s fast-changing media landscape. It covers everything from ethical decision-making and technical expertise to mental health, self-care, and safety in the field. The book also challenges readers to confront implicit bias, power structures in newsrooms, and the complexities of informed consent in a global context—all while encouraging decolonial and community-centered approaches to visual storytelling.

In accessible, practical language, the authors draw on decades of experience across newsrooms, classrooms, and international projects. Their insights make this an invaluable resource not only for students and educators but also for working professionals looking to adapt their craft to a digital, socially engaged era.

Supported by a companion website— criticalphotojournalism.com —the book extends beyond its pages with a bonus chapter on video and photojournalism, interviews with working visual journalists, a glossary of key terms, and an evolving library of resources and tools.

In a time when journalism is under scrutiny and evolving at unprecedented speed, Critical Photojournalism offers both guidance and inspiration. It’s a call to reimagine the role of images in society and to build a future for visual journalism grounded in integrity, inclusivity, and care.



About the Authors
Tara Pixley, PhD, is a photojournalist, assistant professor at Temple University, USA, and executive director of Authority Collective. She has been a photo editor for the New York Times, Newsweek, CNN and The 19th. She is a Reynolds Journalism Innovation Fellow, IWMF NextGen Fellow, Pulitzer Center grantee, World Press Photo Solutions Visual Journalism grantee, and Knight Fellow at Harvard’s Nieman Foundation. Tara serves as vice president of the NPPA board and was a co-author of the Photo Bill of Rights.

Judy Walgren is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and chair of the Foothill College Photography Department in Los Altos Hills, California, USA. Walgren worked for decades as a staff photojournalist, photo editor and director of photography at news organizations in Dallas, Denver and San Francisco. Before joining Foothill College, she served as the associate director for the igan State University School of Journalism.