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Jacob A. Riis: Photojournalism Pioneer. Anne Weisgerber Journalism I Semester 1 2012. Born in Ribe , Denmark… 1849. He immigrated to New York in 1870, aged 21 Got a job as a police reporter, and saw a lot of social problems among the poor
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Jacob A. Riis: Photojournalism Pioneer Anne Weisgerber Journalism I Semester 1 2012
Born in Ribe, Denmark… 1849 • He immigrated to New York in 1870, aged 21 • Got a job as a police reporter, and saw a lot of social problems among the poor • Realized that photography was a more powerful agent of social change • The following slides are of some of his “flashlight” exposes of the living conditions of the very poor
Riis’ work helped eliminate the notorious Mulberry Bend Slum
His Influence • One of the first photographers to have his work published in newspapers • He worked for the New York Tribune in 1877, and the New York Evening Sun in 1890 • He also published his landmark book How the Other Half Lives, in 1890, which is an important social reform text • In 1901, he published his own autobiography called The Making of an American • He founded the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House in 1901 in Manhattan
Quote • “Every man’s experience ought to be worth something to the community from which he drew it, no matter what that experience may be, so long as it was gleaned along the line of some decent, honest work.” • Preface to How the Other Half Lives.
Works Cited • Emery, Michael. "Riis, Jacob August." World Book Student. World Book, 2010. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. • "History." Jacob A Riis Neighborhood Settlement House (2010): n. pag. Web. 13 Sep 2010. <http://www.riissettlement.org/index2.htm>. • "Jacob Riis." Masters of Photography (2010): n. pag. Web. 13 Sep 2010. <http://www.masters-of-photography.com/R/riis/riis.html>. • Riis, Jacob. How the Other Half Lives. Cambridge: Belknap Press, 1970. Print.