User:Photogedon/Newsmakers Photo Service

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Newsmakers Photo Service(1995-2001) was the first online digital photo service based in Washington, DC. Newsmakers founded in 1994 by photographers Richard Ellis and Georges DeKeerle with the purpose of distributing News, Entertainment and Sport photographs through an online web portal. Became the first agency to consolidate and distribute digital images through an e-commerce model.

History

In 1995 Richard Ellis, a former Reuters photographer and the Sygma Photo Washington photographer realized that the Internet allowed for digital news photos to be transmitted around the world without the cost of owning dedicated telephone lines. With the help of a friend he was able to cobble together a basic website which allow for the photographs to be uploaded, search and downloaded through a password protected system. Initially he used the site to upload and distribute photographs he produced for the Sunday talk shows including NBC's "Meet the Press", CBS's "Face the Nation" and other shows which were referred to as "Newsmakers". Thus the name Newsmakers Photo Service was selected. The nearly immediate success of the system caused Richard Ellis to reach out to Georges DeKeerle, a French photographers working for Gamma-Liason Agency based in Miami. Georges DeKeerle joined Richard Ellis in Washington, DC in 1997 and they began expanding the company rapidly eventually reaching 500 contributing photographers and hundreds of clients.

Sale of Company

In 1999 Getty Images acquired Newsmakers Photo Service for an undisclosed amount. Newsmakers became the core of the news Getty Images Editorial Service combining Getty Images companies Liaison Agency, entertainment photo company OnlineUSA and UK based Colorific. Richard Ellis became the Vice-President of Editorial and completed the transition of the business and the creation of the new editorial operation. Newsmakers ceased to exist as a brand under Getty Images in early 2001.