Photojournalism. Photojournalism/76. An Annual Based on the 33rd Pictures of the Year Competition.

National Press Photographers Association with the University of Missouri School of Journalism, 1976.  Hardcover in white cloth, fine with near very good protected dust jacket that has a small chip at top of rear cover and minor edge wear.  (Dust jacket better than usually found, if at all.) 268 pages, with numerous black-and-white photographs and some in color.  Pages 8-133 provide Photographs of the Year in the categories of News, Feature, Sports, and People.  Other chapters include but are not limited to Photographers of the Year (Brian Lanker and Steve Raymer); World Understanding Awards (Ken Heyman, Don Doll, Jim Richardson, Bill Owens, Georg Gerster); Military Photographer of the Year (Herman Kokojan); College Photographer of the Year (Bill Marr).  Also included is a chronology of events in 1975, an essay on the future of photojournalism in books by Howard Chapnick, list of 33rd annual pictures of the year winners, and page index to about 100 photographers with photos in the book, with their mailing addresses.  Photographers included but not mentioned above include Eddie Adams, Harry Benson, Bruce Dale, David Doubilet, Dick Durrance II, Susan G. Ehmer, Dirck Halstead, Raghubir Singh, Rick Smolen, Elizabeth Sunflower, et al.  While most people depicted in the photos are not celebrities, some well known people appear in the photographs, including Fidel Castro, George McGovern, Henry Kissinger, Gerald Ford, The Tubes, Alice Cooper, Ludmila Turischeva, Muhammad Ali, and New York Mayor Abe Beame. Summary:

Published in 1976 by the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) and the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Photojournalism/76 serves as a definitive annual review of the best in news photography from the year 1975. The book showcases the winners and finalists of the 33rd Pictures of the Year (POY) competition, which remains one of the most prestigious contests in the field.

Core Focus & Content

The volume acts as a time capsule for the mid-1970s, presenting a curated selection of images that defined the cultural and political zeitgeist. It is organized by the competition's categories, including:

• Spot News: Raw, immediate coverage of breaking events and disasters.

• General News & Feature: Images capturing the broader social trends and everyday life in America.

• Sports: High-action and behind-the-scenes moments from the athletic world.

• Portrait & Personality: Studies of public figures and private citizens.

• Picture Stories: Multi-image narratives that allow for deeper investigative journalism.

Historical Significance

Because the competition took place in early 1976, the book reflects the major global and domestic events of 1975, including:

• The Fall of Saigon: Dramatic imagery marking the final days and aftermath of the Vietnam War.

• The Bicentennial Lead-up: Visuals documenting America’s preparations for its 200th anniversary.

• The Economic Recession: Photographs capturing the "gas lines" and the human impact of the mid-70s financial crisis.

The "Newspaper vs. Magazine" Dynamic

The 1976 edition is particularly noted for highlighting the shift in the industry. It features the work of Newspaper Photographer of the Year and Magazine Photographer of the Year, illustrating the different stylistic approaches between the daily grit of newsprint and the glossy, more composed narratives of weekly periodicals.

Legacy

Photojournalism/76 is more than a mere awards gallery; it is an educational tool for students of journalism. By including technical data and the stories behind the shots, it celebrates the ethics, bravery, and technical skill required to document history as it happens. For historians, it remains a vital record of the visual language used to communicate truth during one of the most transformative decades in American media.