Fritz Pinnow is an independent journalist & documentary photographer based in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. He primarily specialises in illicit economies, violence, and development. He regularly contributes to The Guardian and Reuters.
In this interview he discusses his unusual start to his career in journalism, his experiences, and gives valuable insight to what it takes to succeed and find fulfilment in the industry.
How did you get your start in journalism?
I actually did not study journalism, nor did I ever really consider the career. I’m an economist by trade. My start in journalism was rather by coincidence.
Whilst on exchange semester during my undergrad, in Medellín, Colombia, mass protests broke out. It was dubbed the National Strike (“Paro Nacional”) of Colombia. What started as a regular protest against an unpopular tax reform quickly escalated, with peaceful marches turning violent as demonstrators clashed with Colombia’s notoriously ruthless riot police. Having been interested in human rights and civil unrest in the past, of course, I wanted to go see them. My roommate and I went, and as we were within all the chaos, we were tear gassed, badly. As a result, we realised that if we were caught by the police, I would be deported. The Colombian authorities would accuse me of insurrection, something they by no means take lightly.
Still wanting to be involved with the protests, I had three options: I would be a paramedic (I didn’t have paramedic training), I do human rights (I didn’t have human rights training), or I am a journalist. From then on I was a journalist.
I bought a camera and captured everything I could of the protests. I fell in love with the work. You’re right in the thick of it, surrounded by the people, and it’s here you have the rare opportunity to truly grasp a conflict. At this time in Colombia, rhetoric about insurrection and
violence was simply a source of anger and division, each side furious with the other. But amidst the chaos, I began to see something deeper — the raw, human stories on both sides of the struggle, revealing the complexities behind the conflict and the emotions driving it.
In your opinion, what is the most important quality in a freelance journalist in today’s
world?
Be a jack of all trades. Reporting can be both remote and on-the-ground, as well as in the form of feature writing, complementing these are on-the-ground photography and videography, and often overlooked, are the roles of fixing and consulting. Most people tend to see these “jobs” as separate. When talking to writing colleagues, they act surprised that I also photograph. “Isn’t that someone else’s job?” they joke. Being well versed in as many of these as one can is absolutely essential. In a world of writers who only write, and
photographers who only photograph, publications will be delighted to know they have a correspondent to count on that they can throw anything at.
How important is mentorship in journalism?
Throughout my career as a journalist I have always been guided by a mentor of some kind. Upon finishing my aforementioned exchange semester in Colombia, I was so captivated by journalism that I thought it was obvious to go and study journalism. An editor I was working
with at the time told me otherwise. He instead suggested I pursue studies in something I am interested in reporting on. As a result, I went to London to study development with a specific focus on illicit economies.
During this time, and by sheer luck, I met Mike Goldwater, he would become an incredible mentor. He truly took me under his wing, sometimes we would sit for hours editing photos and perfecting my work. Eventually, through his guidance, I landed my first real assignment with The New Humanitarian here in Honduras, and I have been here ever since. Not everyone you meet or reach out to will offer mentorship, I have faced countless rejections along the way. Yet, when you finally find the right person, it can be truly life changing.
The ethics of journalism can be a very complicated topic, how crucial is it for journalists to define their ethics, especially regarding advocacy versus impartiality?
I firmly believe that journalism is not activism. They are completely unrelated and should stay separate to preserve the integrity of any multifaceted story. It is crucial to develop your own metric on how you want to do your work. I have, for example, have mine clearly
outlined in an ethics statement on my website, and I encourage all journalists to do the same. Impartiality is essential in reporting. For example, on my first assignment for The Guardian I was reporting on illegal palm oil plantations in a national park in northern Honduras.
For a story like this it is incredibly easy to jump to conclusions. Everyone knows that palm oil is detrimental to the environment, and even more so when it is illegally grown in a national park. Yet, I remained impartial and listened to all sides of the story before jumping to any
conclusions. I made it a point to listen to the producers of the illegal palm oil and find out why they are producing it despite the environmental and legal repercussions. They had reasoning one wouldn’t expect, and much less find out about if one jumped to conclusions
beforehand.
People will say it is impossible to remain completely impartial. I believe one should try and
let it be reflected in your work.
What is a piece of advice that is not talked about enough in journalism?
Know who you’re working for. Understanding the nature of the publication is crucial. At The Guardian, for instance, I may spend weeks or even months working on a story, conducting interviews, building relationships, and ensuring that every detail is looked after. In contrast, at
Reuters for example, they focus on speed and immediacy. I take the photos and send them, unedited, and as quickly as possible. Reuters prioritises conveying the raw essence of a situation, valuing the photograph itself over any sort of editing process.
No publication is the same. Every publication works differently and every editor within them works differently as well. Knowing what they value and prioritise is incredibly important.
How does freelance journalism compare to working at a traditional publication, and
which path would you recommend?
In freelance journalism, no two days are ever the same. Time seems to flow differently, each day bringing fresh thoughts and experiences. One week I will be glued to my desk purely writing, and the next I will be, for example, accompanying a military intelligence unit on
coca eradication in the jungles of Honduras. In freelancing effort and reward are directly linked: if you don’t work, you don’t earn, but when you work hard, you not only see financial success but also see your hard work flourish in real ways. This sense of direct impact and
fulfilment is rare in many traditional jobs, making the freelance life both demanding and incredibly rewarding.
