Meet our contest’s jury member: Stefania Iantaffi
Stefania Iantaffi, Chief of ANSA (Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, Italy) Desk Picture, reveals what prompted her to shift journalistic gears and move from traditional reporting into photojournalism. In addition, she’ll elaborate on the importance of the work of photographers.
Biography
Stefania Iantaffi is the chief of the ANSA Picture Desk. She launched her journalism career in 1985 as a correspondent for German magazines. She had served as a photo editor until 2004 for Granata Press Agency in Milan and from 2004 as chief editor for ANSA. At ANSA Picture Desk, she selects more than 400 pictures daily taken by Italian photographers and more than 1,000 pictures pouring into ANSA from its international partners - EPA and AFP. She speaks Italian, English, German, and French. Stefania also took part in the Siena International Photo Awards. She annually edits the Ansa Photo Book containing the year’s best pictures from Italy and around the world.
Why did you choose this profession, and what inspires you in the photo industry now?
I started out my career as a journalist, but I was always intrigued by the power of images. I needed to write pages and pages of information to tell readers about a trial, while skillful photographers were able to explain the events of the whole story with just a few good snapshots. So, I found the power of pictures to be captivating. Actually, we are always far too much on the run because of the digital competition, so we can’t always appreciate or take good pictures. In spite of any global press crisis, the best snapshots will never fade away.
What made you decide to join the first international NEWS PHOTO AWARDS jury?
It is a great opportunity to get acquainted with fresh new faces in the professional photography community and wonderful pictures.
I find the work that photographers carry on to be essential. They are the ones, in my view, who never stop working and take on risks for themselves and their families. I even sensed a distinct solidarity among all photographers. Most of them managed to change the point of view of daily life and reality.
Why do you think this contest is important?
As I said before, the website has sapped the picture market. Street journalism is important, but the quality of the images is often very low. So, I think this contest is very important to show and discover what a perfect light, a specific movement, and not others, nor a study of the location, can make the difference.