Photojournalism Ethics

Response Questions

1.)     A good photographer is honest. Yes it is okay to move objects interfering with the shot, such as a chair in the way of you taking a great picture of a spokesperson. It becomes unacceptable when instead of taking something out of the shot, you add an object into the scene. This refers to staging because the shot is altered to change the meaning. For example, the scenario "It All Began With A Mouse" was an unaltered photograph of a child's toy left in ruble. See figure 1.

Figure 1

      This photograph raised lots of attention for its meaning, how war had effected the children living there. Soon after many people posted pictures very similar to the original shot, staging children's toys in garbage and rubble. These photos portrayed the same meaning, but were fake. Photojournalism represents true events, so altering the shot in my opinion is unethical because its lying to your audience.

Figure 2

2.)    Digital photo manipulation in my opinion is another form of unethical photojournalism. Using any form of computer software, such as Photoshop to alter photos meant to show real events is digital photo manipulation. Figure 2 is an example of how someone took several photos and merged them together to create a new image. In photojournalism, it is our duty to not alter photos so that they mislead the public and label digitally altered photos as photo illustrations. We have to be accurate in what our photo represents, and honest about the way that photo came to be. Providing context with Figure 2 informing the audience that this photo was alter, would make it okay to post. 

3.)     With new technology advances accessible to the public for photography, as photojournalists we must treat all subjects we are photographing with respect. In most cases, I think it is okay to take pictures of the general public for journalistic or artistic purposes. Respect for others' privacy tells me that the fact that the person doesn't know you're doing it from a distance doesn't really change anything, so in my opinion if you are able to ask the person or group of people you are photographing for their permission it should be done. I believe intrusion is only ethical given the right amount of respect and dignity to the subject. Compassion should be given to those who are victims to the event being photographed, and be put into consideration that they might not want to have photos published of them. Although respect is needed in any tough situation being photographed, if intruding has a justifiable reason why the public needs to see the images then is it considered acceptable.