With the cold blast of near-Arctic temperatures coating the steps of The Digital Journalist studio with ice, it is a reminder of the power of nature. It is probably one of the reasons why photographer Bill Hess's magnificent essay, called "Gift of the Whale" on the whalehunting traditions of Alaskan Indians struck such a chord with us.

Bill has been documenting the Inupiat tribe for almost 20 years. For the Inupiat, the whale is the most valuable resource that they have. His photographs reveal a tradition that has sustained a people for over 1,000 years. Bill writes about the effect his coverage has had on him, and speaks in our RealAudio clips about a project that has given his life meaning.

Last year The Digital Journalist produced a 30 minute documentary on the future of photojournalism, PJ2001. We interviewed editors, publishers, station managers and photo journalists about what they saw as the future of the profession in the years immediately ahead (follow this link to read about PJ2001). One of the most eloquent and clairvoyant of the people we interviewed was Dan Okrent, who at the time was head of Time New Media. He had come to his post, following a tour as Managing Editor of LIFE. Dan had a very definite vision of what the future held, and print was not part of it. In December he delivered an impassioned speech to The Columbia School of Journalism, entitled "The Death Of Print?" We found his arguments to be compelling, and would like to present them to you this month as a guest editorial. It is bound to provoke discussion and argument in editorial offices around the world.

Contributing Editor Tom Hubbard offers us his views on how newspapers need to keep their priorities focused as we go into the new millennium, in "Photojournalism Essentials."

TV editor Amy Bowers reports her impressions after visiting the infamous ranch in Mexico where informants on drug trafficking were buried, in "Something New at a News Conference."

Bill Pierce weighs in with his monthly Nuts and Bolts column, "For The Darkroomless."

We introduce a new columnist, Roger Richards, a staff photographer for The Washington Times, who last year graduated from the Platypus Workshop in Norman. Roger will be writing about the changes in photojournalism in his column "View From the City Desk."

Last week, we conducted a special Platypus West workshop for magazine photojournalists on the Apple Campus in Cupertino. Among the photographers attending were Rick Smolan, who created the "Day In The Life" books, Ed Kashi, National Geographic's Jim Sugar, Bob Mahoney, Bob Sacha, Brian Lawler, Chicago Tribune Asst. Managing Editor for Graphics Mark Hinosa, and National Press Photographer's Assn Past President Jim McNay. For a feature story report by The San Jose Mercury News' John Flott follow this link.

We regret to report that Ed Clark, one of our "Veterans Of LIFE," that we featured a year ago, has passed away, peacefully in his sleep, in Sarasota. There will be a special memorial service for this giant of photojournalism that will be held at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville on February 12th at 2pm. We invite any of you to attend.

In his life, Ed watched as the profession changed from the 4x5 speed graphic, to the Rollei, to the 35mm, and was able to watch his photographs and words appear as if by magic on broadband on the web. We leave you with some of his final words:

"People come and ask me...should you be a photojournalist? ..no...don't become a photojournalist unless you want the best life you ever had, and work harder than you ever worked your whole life, and if you are lucky and dedicated, then be a photographer! "

Amen.

Dirck Halstead