This Is the Tech Behind Breaking News Photos

How photojournalists share critical photos so quickly

A photojournalist captures an exchange between a police officer and rioters at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. Photo: Pacific Press/Getty Images

In photojournalism, speed has always been critical. Back in the film era, newspapers had bustling in-house darkrooms so they could process photos quickly. Many issued their photographers specific types of film that were easy and forgiving to develop. Some photojournalists even carried small…