Public journalism and press photography: Ritual, conflict and consensus

Given its predilection for depicting the ritualistically affirmative and unifying moments of community life, press photography has more in common with public journalism than might first meet the eye. Public journalism, like press photography, seeks to promote the participation of ordinary people in consensus-building and community. Both give the impression of encouraging us as citizens to confront and challenge the problems and conflicts we confront in our everyday lives. But photographs have been known to fabricate unity and community. Does this suggest another, perhaps less salutary, link between press photography and public journalism?