JOHAN RUTGEERTS GENT BELGIUM

JOHAN RUTGEERTS PHOTOGRAPHY

PEOPLE AT WORK

08:30 - saturday morning

On saturdays, the newsboy brings me my paper, some three hours later than at weekdays.

I asked him if one day I could join him on his round.

03.30 in the morning.

We met at the distribution centre, just out of town.

Some ten newsboys are waiting for their papers.

The boss at the left has no time to talk, and there is no coffee or tea to warm.

03:40

One of the newsboys carries his newpapers to his scooter.

03:45

My newsboy's name is Prince, native from Ghana.

Newsboys are responsible for a correct delivery. Getting the wrong newspaper or no newspaper at all is the worst thing that can overcome the subscribers; it's worser than all the anxious published news.

He knows his customers by hart but everyday there are some new subscribers he has to range carefully.

03:50

As Prince has the round the nearest to the distribution centre, he's almost the latest to leave.

No luck today, it rains.

Some 300 newspapers have to be delivered.

04:50

What Prince does not know is that one his clients is the editor in chief of one of the papers, who's still asleep, like anyone else of course.

05:10

Seven years ago, Prince moved from France to Belgium.

One of his first jobs here was being a newsboy.

07:00

His tour is nearly finished.

After breakfast with his children, he will clean schools for a maintenance company.

His wife works for a cleaning firm.

When I ask him whether he finds his job is fair paid, he rolls his eyes.

Saturday afternoon.

I asked Prince if I could take a picture of his family at his home.

At the left, you see Jeanette, Brielle in the middle and at the right Princess.

Prince was proud to announce that within a few weeks, his oldest daughter will start at one of the most prestigious secundary schools that still advocates wearing a uniform.