Converging Internet and related digital technologies allowed these images to be moved around the world in seconds. Instead of having staff photographers from all papers covering major cities like Washington, they were able to cover Washington with one or two staff photographers and a few freelancers. In ten short years, Knight Ridder has become the second-largest wire service in the world and their investment in digital technology has become one of their most profitable investments. Clients are now able to search the vast database of the wire services and find the images they need and photographers are able to serve multiple clients by transmitting their images via the Internet. Today, newspapers routinely issue digital cameras to their staff as film and processing costs far outweigh the price of digital cameras.
Photographers can do their assignments and transmit from home or the field.
The pressure to get the image out to the world has always been great and while digital photography can't compress time, it sure slows the clock.