Proximity and its role in photojournalism consumption. Case study: How does geographical proximity to a social issue influence media consumer's ability to relate to a social story?
Proximity and its role in photojournalism consumption. Case study: How does geographical proximity to a social issue influence media consumer's ability to relate to a social story?

Summary/Abstract: The article starts from the hypothesis that media consumers are more drawn to a deeper emotional response or connection to social stories that are geographically closer to them in contrast to similar stories that are placed farther away [Allan, 2005]. We used a focus group to test this theory and we approached a general subject that was reported on different occasions, in different states and continents. The study focuses on the subject of children in distress, being abandoned or separated by their families on state borders. Sample stories from the Ukrainian-Romanian borders, Mexico -United States borders and stories from the scenes that occurred in Afghanistan during the U. S. military retrieval from the country have been used. Photojournalistic images to showcase the stories have also been employed. The chosen events took place in recent past and produced strong visual content, photojournalistic images that really assist media consumers in visualizing and understanding the story.

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