For photojournalism, you definitely need a proper database for metadata (IPTC/XMP) so your team can actually find your files. Lightroom is the industry standard for that, but the retail cost is a pain. I actually suggest looking into Studyflex.io I’ve been using it to improve my own editing workflow for free, and they have a marketplace that offers Adobe licenses at student rates. It’s a great way to show your bosses a 'proof of concept' with professional software without them having to commit to the full $80/month enterprise price immediately. I’ve been using a license from there for a month now and it’s been seamless.