Constraints of Producing Photo Stories and Publishing Preferences among Photographers: A Study on Communicators

Raheel, Eid

doi:10.21608/jkom.2025.453279

Constraints of Producing Photo Stories and Publishing Preferences among Photographers: A Study on Communicators

Author

Eid Raheel

Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University

10.21608/jkom.2025.453279

Abstract

The photo story in Egyptian journalism occupies a puzzling position. While many rely on it as a powerful tool in the fierce competition that the print press faces with limited resources, electronic and digital media also depend on it amidst the current visual flood we are witnessing. However, its appearance to the public faces numerous obstacles that hinder and obstruct production, publication, and even proper compensation.
This study attempts to uncover these obstacles and measure their quantitative and qualitative impact on the production rates of photo stories. The obstacles were classified, based on the adopted Theory of Constraints, into five categories: market constraints, administrative constraints, behavioral constraints, logistical constraints, and publishing constraints.
By applying the study to a sample of photographers consisting of 109 participants, the impact of each constraint was revealed and ranked according to Pearson’s correlation coefficient as follows: modern technology (mobile phones – drones), artistic freedom, professional competition, following others’ stories, financial return from alternative publishing, administrative freedom, production capabilities, editorial policy, journalistic independence, and the publishing medium.
The study demonstrated that years of experience significantly affect the rate of photo story production, while gender and age showed no significant impact. It also revealed that the institutional role in supporting this journalistic art form has not been as effective as it should be.

Keywords

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