Emotions and Subjectivity in Swedish Photojournalistic Practices

This article examines how Swedish photojournalists negotiate subjectivity and emotionality while adhering to journalistic norms such as objectivity, detachment, and impartiality—particularly when covering unexpected events such as accidents, terror attacks, and conflicts. Drawing on interviews with 17 photojournalists, this study explores the emotional elements they engage with in their practice and how these experiences intersect with journalistic ideals and ethical considerations. Through thematic analysis, three interrelated emotional elements are identified: techno-emotional, which highlights how technologies mediate emotional connections, proximity, and distance; spatio-emotional, which focuses on embodied and spatial experiences; and affective-emotional, which addresses photojournalists’ gut feelings, empathy, and emotional work in relation to those they photograph. In line with previous research on journalism and emotions, the findings reveal that while emotional engagement might challenge traditional journalistic norms, it is also integral to decision-making, audience connection, and ethical reflection. By demonstrating how photojournalists’ emotional and subjective practices create micro-ruptures within journalistic frameworks, this study contributes to broader discussions on the role of emotions in journalism by focusing on photojournalistic practice specifically.