Soon the next step in our digital media experience will be released:  The Daily.

It’s a new venture between Apple and News Corp. to create an iPad-only newspaper. Is this the beginning of a new opportunity for the photojournalist?

Last spring I wrote a blog post on the day that changed publishing.  It was the day Apple released its iPad to the public.  A year earlier I wrote about the future of e-paper here , and posted (including videos) about the future of visual media.

The Amazon Kindle, the Apple iPad and smart phones have taken root using e-paper technology.  Millions of people read books, newspapers and magazines using these new tools.

I’ve often said this technology is the future for photojournalists. We have been waiting for an easy-to-use and profitable delivery system for quality content and quality imagery to give new life to journalism industry.

The screens on these new products are amazing. Poor quality images are not acceptable, especially from professional media services.   The Daily is the beginning  of the next generation of subscription media.

For a subscription service to be successful, it must be easy to use and have incredible content.  As a photographer I cheer for the opportunity for a successful business model.  Unfortunately, new media platforms will not slow the number of new photographers entering the industry, creating more supply than demand. It will provide new opportunities for those photographers at the top of their game.

AOL is investing in Patch, what the industry is calling hyper-local community websites.  It has been interesting to watch its growth.  If this venture works, the next step will be tablet applications similar to The Daily on a massive, hyper-local scale.

The days of the bustling newsroom full of editors, reporters and photographers are coming to an end.  The future media company newsroom will include editors receiving content from freelance writers, photographers, and videographers.  In the future, writing, photography and videography will come from the same person.

Photographers, if you want to make a living as a photojournalist in the future, you must learn video and how to write.

Take risks, support new start-up publications, and build relationships with editors.

Our future is now.