Jessie Tarbox Beals photojournalist
Photojournalism is the effort to communicate news through the use of photographs. Photojournalism first began in the United States during the Civil War. Matthew Brady worked for Harpers Weekly magazine and photographed soldiers and battlefields for the publication. In 1889 a Danish immigrant, Jacob Riis, wrote an article for Scribner magazine which featured his photos of New York City slums. Riis then went on to produce a book based upon his photos called, “How the Other Half Lives: Studies among the Tenements of New York”. This book explained the living conditions for thousands of immigrants who were living in city slums and working in sweatshops for a few cents a day. Riis’s photojournalism was credited with improving living and working conditions in New York City. Theodore Roosevelt called Riis “the most useful citizen of New York.” In the late 1800’s newspaper, magazine and book publishers were recognizing the value of including images with news stories. […]