People will never know how hard it is to get information, especially if it's locked up behind official doors where, if politicians had their way, they'd stamp 'top secret' on the color of the walls.
Helen ThomasRead
Everyone with a cell phone thinks they're a photographer. Everyone with a laptop thinks they're a journalist. But they have no training, and they have no idea of what we keep to in terms of standards, as in what's far out and what's reality. And they have no dedication to truth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the idea that access to technology equates to expertise in photography and journalism.
Helen Thomas emphasizes that just because people can take photos with cell phones and write articles on laptops, it does not mean they possess the necessary skills, training, or commitment to uphold professional standards in photography and journalism. Access to technology is not a substitute for the dedication, knowledge, and ethical considerations that true professionals bring to their craft.
Themes
PhotographyJournalismTechnologyTrainingStandardsTruth
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the impact of smartphones on photography skills.
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