Transcript ppt
Ethics in Photojournalism What are the goals of photojournalism? Factual depiction? Convey a story? Objective? Clearly explains the subject? Current state of affairs? NPPA Code of Ethics http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/ethics.html Ethics in Photojournalism Case Studies: Photo processing Photo manipulation Tragic subjects Reporting bias Case studies in ethics: Photo processing After O.J. Simpson’s arrest on murder chargers, both Newsweek and Time ran articles with Simpson’s mugshot Case studies in ethics: Photo processing In 2003, Patrick Schneider was fired over his processing of photos Case studies in ethics: Photo processing Newsweek ran a cropped version of the image as an editorial cover: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/essay-9/?hp Case studies in ethics: Photo manipulation National Geographic compressed this image of the Pyramids to fit it onto their 1982 cover Case studies in ethics: Photo manipulation LA Times ran the top photo by Brian Walski. It was a composite of two separate photos (bottom) Case studies in ethics: Photo manipulation Allan Detrich was fired for his modified photo, in which he removed a pair of legs Case studies in ethics: Photo manipulation Questions to ask: • What are we allowed to adjust? • What can we definitely not adjust? • Where is the line drawn? • Tool-based? • Change in image content? • Intent? • Different standards for type of publication? Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects Robert Kennedy moments after being shot by assassin Sirhan Sirhan Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects A woman and her child fall from a collapsed fire escape in Boston. The child survived the fall; the woman did not. A man jumps from the World Trade Center during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects The family of Edward Romero grieves over his body – the 5-year-old Romero died in an accidental drowning Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects Kevin Carter took this image of a starving child in Sudan Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects In this Reuters image, a man discards bodies of victims in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects Questions to ask: • Are graphic images appropriate? • Should they be handled specially? • Depend on the publication audience? • Taking photos while someone is in need? • Taking photos while someone is in need, but not being able to help anyway? • Privacy intrustion into victims? • Benefits of publicizing tragedy? • Is it an editorial decision? Case studies in ethics: Bias A US national receives medical treatment during the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake Case studies in ethics: Bias In 2000, NY Times ran this image of a supposed Palestinian, with the implication that the Israeli policeman had beat him. The victim was in fact a Jewish student, who had been beaten by Arabs. Case studies in ethics: Bias President George W. Bush holds a turkey during Thanksgiving dinner at a base in Iraq. The turkey was a decorative centerpiece, and not edible. Food was actually served on cafeteria-style steam trays. Case studies in ethics: Bias Arthur Rothstein moved the skull from its original position (right) and onto a dryer flat area (left), in a photo series documenting drought conditions in South Dakota. Case studies in ethics: Bias Lebanese air raid photo op: http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2006/07/milking-it.html Case studies in ethics: Bias Avoid bias: • Fully research cutline info • Fully disclose all relevant info • Avoid sensationalism • Avoid staged photos, by yourself and by subjects • Moving objects around?