Often, there are times when deadlines have to be met. If no other shot of this event comes to my attention, this goes to print. NEWS SHOTS are not necessarily works of art! Due to the quick nature of the action ,that has to be caught in a limited amount of time.
I do however, teach much of what you have mentioned. And would agree on what would improve this pic. But for it's newsworthy value that would delude the life out of Toby's photo.
The whole bottom shows people at a table , clapping hands or reaching to touch their candidate.
That is our setting. A story without words. The TV cameraman's video light shows that it is a live news moment. The outreaching hands show implied action, no faces needed! Point of interest is definitely the highlighted subject, contrasting the darker subordinate figures.
Could composition an placement improve this? Certainly! Point is - IT WORKS!!!
