This is referring to editorial images, photos are recording an news worthy incident/event and it supposes to show at it is, many photographers already crossed the line of manipulating the editorial photos by excessive post processing their RAW images.
Does this read : only SOOC camera JPEGs are accepted ?
But using what in cam settings? "Vivid", for example, can? And only B&W shots from a dedicated B&W cam allowed?
I can think of so many reason for their doing so including one where that person who implemented this is not even a photographer but a pen pusher. So a large hammer was used to solve it.
It is a reaction to all of the faked photoshopped chicanery that goes on nowadays. Mass media is losing it's credibility but for more reasons than just this little deal. I like the idea. Reportage is reportage. Say you are a combat photographer. Shoot RAW so you can enhance the colors and all of that jazz??? LOL No sir that is not what it is about if you ask me. There is some question about even some of that old 'raw' film stuff being faked. The dying Spanish soldier by Capa is said to be staged. Also the buzzard going to eat starving baby picture by bang bang club guy also said to be staged.
there is not so much about film or digital, raw or jpg, the bottom line is the integrity of the photographers, when this is absent, there is no authenticity of photojournalism. nothing could help.
there is no credibility of these news agencies, just a laughing stock in their industry.