Need for safety from virus is changing how photographers work

Working from home is the new normal for most people in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But for our photojournalists, that really is not possible.

As visual journalists, we need to be out in the community documenting how our communities are functioning during this outbreak that has changed the way we all live.

That said, our photojournalists are following the best practices for keeping the people we are photographing safe and ourselves safe, too.

Safety is our No. 1 goal.

So, we are requiring our photojournalists to stay a minimum of 6 to 8 feet away from anyone they are photographing.

Where necessary, we are wearing masks and gloves to again protect ourselves and others, as you see from the photo of Senior Photographer Brian Hill working on an assignment about a Meals on Wheels volunteer.

Will we get the photo we would have envisioned two months ago when life was somewhat normal? Probably not.

But we will get the best photo we can for our readers while staying as safe as we possibly can and keeping our subjects as safe as we can.

We will also rely on some submitted photos from readers from projects we might have sent a staff photojournalist to in other times.

We all miss the simple things like a good handshake when meeting someone on an assignment. A high-five from a colleague for a job well done. And maybe even a hug from a loved one when we return home from an assignment.

But forgoing these expressions is the new normal for now, and we'll work as smartly and as safely as we can to bring you the visual coverage you deserve.