Podcast Summary
Unexpected encounters can lead to profound connections: Meeting locals during travels can lead to lifelong relationships and valuable collaborations
Sometimes the most unexpected encounters can lead to profound connections and experiences. This was the case for National Geographic writer Jordan Salama during his first visit to Indonesia in 1998. Instead of hopping into a taxi like so many others, he met Harryanto, a kind and wise local man who instead asked about John's family and offered him a seat on the bench. This chance encounter led to a 10-year relationship and countless stories for Time Magazine and National Geographic. At National Geographic, local collaborators play an essential role in making photography possible, providing transportation, translation, and local context. These collaborators often end up on incredible adventures, forming close relationships with photographers that can last for years. The story of Jordan and Harryanto highlights the importance of taking the time to connect with people, even in the most unlikely places. It also underscores the value of local knowledge and collaboration in bringing stories to life. For more inspiring stories and insights, check out Nat Geo Digital and subscribe for a free month. And if you're a mom looking for relatable conversations about being a parent and pop culture, tune in to Pop Culture Moms.
Behind every NatGeo photo lies a team of dedicated individuals: Photo editors, pilots, logistics managers, cultural experts, and translators collaborate to bring stunning NatGeo photos to life
Behind every stunning photograph published in National Geographic, there's a team of dedicated individuals working together to bring the story to life. Photo editors, like Jen C., act as the midwives to photo stories, guiding photographers, conducting research, and sifting through thousands of images to find the final publication-worthy ones. These unsung heroes include pilots, logistics managers, cultural experts, and translators, who provide essential support in transportation, access, risk management, and equipment assistance. These collaborative partnerships are crucial to the success of each photographic story, and many team members are also journalists and photographers in their own right. Jen mentioned her dislike for the term "fixers," as it can oversimplify the multifaceted roles these individuals play. Instead, they should be recognized for their unique skills and expertise in making each photographic story a reality.
The complex roles of local collaborators: Local collaborators bring essential skills, connections, and context to create well-rounded stories for media outlets. Their contributions go beyond logistical fixes and include photography, journalism, and expertise.
The term "fixer" does not fully capture the complexity and importance of the roles local collaborators play in creating compelling stories for media outlets like National Geographic. These collaborators bring a range of skills, connections, and contextual understanding that go beyond just fixing logistical issues. They can be photographers, journalists, or experts in their own right, and their contributions are essential in telling well-rounded and authentic stories. Moreover, the collaborative nature of these assignments often leads to adventurous experiences, as illustrated by the story of Carlton Ward Junior and his trusted colleague Malia Burdes, who worked together in the Florida swamps using motion sensor camera traps. Malia's experience as a camera trapper and conservationist proved invaluable to Carlton's project, and their collaboration led to exciting and challenging experiences, including rescuing cameras from floods and encountering territorial alligators. Overall, the term "collaborators in the field" is a more accurate and inclusive way to describe the multifaceted roles these individuals play in creating captivating stories for media outlets.
Preparing for Challenges in the Field: Building Strong Relationships with Local Collaborators: Building strong relationships with local collaborators is crucial for producing high-quality, nuanced stories that accurately reflect communities and issues.
Working in the field for National Geographic involves facing unique challenges and risks, from encountering alligators in the swamps to navigating unfamiliar communities. As an editor, it's essential to prepare teams as best as possible for these situations and to have systems in place for managing security and risk. Local collaborators play a crucial role in making assignments successful, providing essential knowledge and expertise, and helping outsiders make sense of their surroundings. Parachute journalism, where journalists are sent to cover a location or issue with little knowledge or experience and stay for a short time, can result in inaccurate or stereotypical reporting. Building strong relationships with local collaborators is key to producing high-quality, nuanced stories that truly reflect the communities and issues being covered.
Collaboration between journalists and local experts: Effective journalism and photography rely on local collaborators for community knowledge, language access, and cultural sensitivity. Successful partnerships allow for empathetic, respectful storytelling.
Effective journalism and photography require a deep understanding of the communities being covered, as well as the collaboration of local experts. Journalists and photographers bring technical expertise and a passion for storytelling, but local collaborators offer invaluable lived experiences, language access, and community knowledge. The partnership between these two groups allows for a more empathetic, sensitive, and respectful approach to storytelling. However, the unexpected nature of reporting on the ground necessitates flexibility and cultural sensitivity to avoid causing harm. National Geographic photographers Daniella Saltzman and Taylor Irvine serve as an example of successful collaboration, with Saltzman benefiting from Irvine's expertise and perspective as a member of the indigenous community she was documenting.
Building genuine connections with local communities and collaborators: Forging deep bonds with locals and collaborators enhances trust, leads to stronger storytelling, and can result in lasting friendships.
Building genuine connections with local communities and collaborators is essential for successful and impactful journalism. These relationships not only help build trust and result in stronger storytelling but can also lead to lasting friendships. The challenges faced in the field, whether in conflict zones or working with communities, can forge deep bonds that transcend typical working relationships. Extreme examples, such as John Stanmeyer taking a knife for his colleague in East Timor, illustrate the strength of these bonds. While such situations are not expected or typical, they underscore the importance of authentic human connections in journalism.
Collaborations in Photojournalism: Deep collaborations enhance storytelling in photojournalism, ensuring safety and success. Technology preserves these bonds for sharing experiences and resources.
The relationships and connections between photographers and their collaborators in the field are essential for meaningful storytelling and can last a lifetime. These collaborators often go above and beyond to ensure the safety and success of photo assignments, sometimes even becoming heroes in the process. Technology now allows for these bonds to endure, providing a valuable resource for photographers to share experiences, both traumatic and special. The deeper the connection, the better the storytelling. This week's episode featured a few examples of such collaborations, but for more inspiring stories, check out Gen C's article. Additionally, explore Douglas Main's piece on Florida's wildlife corridor and Daniella Saltzman's reporting on indigenous people in North America. Don't forget to visit John Stanmeyer's website for his incredible photography covering Indonesia and beyond. Follow me on Instagram for more content, and enjoy this week's episode produced by Elana Strauss, with senior producers Brian Gutierrez and Jacob Pinter, senior editor Eli Chen, manager of audio Carla Wills, executive producer of audio Dvar Ardelon, photo editor Julie Howe, sound design by Ted Woods, and theme music by Hans Dale Soo.
National Geographic's Commitment to Explorers and Storytelling: National Geographic invests in explorers and their work to inspire and educate us about the world, led by Michael Tribble and Nathan Lump.
National Geographic, through its Society and its partnerships, invests in the work of explorers like John Stanmeyer, Daniella Saltzman, and Carlton Ward, Jr., who are dedicated to illuminating and protecting the wonders of our world. This commitment to storytelling is led by Michael Tribble, the vice president of integrated storytelling, and Nathan Lump, the editor in chief. By funding these explorers and their work, National Geographic continues to inspire and educate us about the world around us. Tune in to their podcast to learn more about their discoveries and adventures.
