'photojournalism' originates from the combination of 'photo' and 'journalism', where 'photo' is derived from the Greek word 'phōtós' meaning 'light', and 'journalism' is derived from the French word 'journalisme', which in turn comes from 'journal', meaning 'daily'.

'photojournalism' was coined in the early 20th century as photography became a more integral part of news reporting.

Initially, it referred to the use of photographs in newspapers, but over time it evolved to include digital media and online platforms.