#10 - Lucy Conticello (Director of Photography, M Le Monde) on photojournalism, AI and chairing World Press Photo

What does it actually take to chair the World Press Photo jury, the most watched photography award in the world? In this episode, I sit down in Paris with Lucy Conticello, Director of Photography for M, the weekend magazine of Le Monde, to find out. Lucy walks me through her unlikely path from studying archaeology in Rome to becoming one of the most respected photo editors in the industry, and why she never wanted to be a photographer herself. We talk about how M balances hard news with fashion and lifestyle, how Le Monde is navigating generative AI in a newsroom (including a mistake that made it into print), and what it was really like to chair this year's World Press Photo Awards jury: the regional voting system, the hidden clicker votes, the two weeks that get under your skin. We also dig into the funding crisis freelance photojournalists face today, and why Lucy believes the industry needs a shared fund to keep important stories alive. A conversation for anyone who wants to understand what happens on the other side of the assignment.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy Lucy chose editing over shooting, and why she believes most photographers struggle to edit their own workHow M Le Monde balances hard news with fashion, lifestyle and design in one magazineThe difference between traditional AI and generative AI in a newsroom, and why Le Monde bans the latter entirelyWhat actually happens inside the World Press Photo jury room: regional juries, consensus-building, and the hidden voteWhy freelance photojournalists are increasingly self-funding their own stories, and what Lucy thinks needs to changeWhat she looks for in a portfolio review, and why matching photographer to reviewer mattersAbout the guestLucy Conticello is Director of Photography for M, the weekend magazine of the French newspaper Le Monde. She started her career as a junior assistant photo editor for the Italian news weekly Liberal, before studying photography practice and history in Maine, US, and archaeology and art history in Rome. She has worked with Business Week, The New York Times, Nespresso, Courrier International, the International Herald Tribune, and agencies including SIPA Press, Magnum Photos and AFP. She is a frequent member of international photography juries, including the World Press Photo Awards, where she served as this year's chair, and regularly takes part in portfolio reviews at events worldwide.Partner of this episodeCameranu — for photographers who need more than creativity, also the right gear. Camera Nu's specialists give honest, personal advice on lenses and cameras you can rely on during a shoot. Use code DDK10 for 10% off your next purchase at cameranu.beFree webinar: the 5 consistent habits of top photographers who keep growing. Free, sign up here. Share & explore: if this conversation gave you something, share it with a photographer who might need it. For mentoring, masterclasses and workshops, visit donkerekamer.com.