Abstract:
Since our world is so connected these days, growth of digital devices,
news, and media organizations will pay a high premium for the greatest and most
interesting photographs available. As events unfold, it's easy to feel cynicism and
skepticism. Word travels fast, and many search for the most trustworthy and reliable
sources of information. Photojournalists are present, alongside more traditional
journalists, to create a story that speaks for itself. Using the qualitative research
method, this study primarily focuses on the social cognition theory to demonstrate
the effect of photojournalism on readers' exposure and retention. The purpose of this
research is to show that visual aids like photographs can significantly improve
memory retention. The visual aid greatly increases the chances of remembering what
was read. Images that aren't directly associated with the text tend to be forgotten
quickly. In this study, social cognition theory is applied to the people of Chattogram
to determine the optimal conditions for maximizing reader engagement and knowl-
edge retention focusing on the cognitive level of the audiences. This research also
demonstrates the wide variety of quick-read news stories available in visual formats.
Pictures in the news need to be just the right size to keep the attention of the readers.
150 people from the general public aged between 18-30 were chosen for this study
and three renowned newspapers from both online and offline modes (Daily Ittefaq,
The Daily Star, and Bdnews24.com) were selected for gathering data. Research
results lend considerable credence to social cognition arguments.
Keywords: Social cognition theory, Photojournalism, Readers' exposure and
retention, Impact of the picture
