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Photojournalism ethics

Photojournalism ethics. Material from Photojournalism: A Professional’s Approach. Sometimes ethical issues pit a photojournalist’s professional duties against his or her own conscience. .

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Photojournalism ethics

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  1. Photojournalism ethics Material from Photojournalism: A Professional’s Approach

  2. Sometimes ethical issues pit a photojournalist’s professional duties against his or her own conscience.

  3. They have to choose between how they might act as individual citizens and how they feel they should act as a photojournalist.

  4. Vulture & the starving child

  5. What other jobs have similar dilemmas? • Public defender representing a rapist • Doctor who extends the life of someone who is suffering just because they have the resources

  6. Foundations for ethical decision-making • UTILITARIAN • “The greatest good for the greatest number of people.” • Recognizes that photojournalism provides information critical to a democratic society • Without a photojournalists pictures, viewers are deprived of what may be critical decision-making information.

  7. Foundations for ethical decision-making • ABSOLUTIST • Certain principles are fixed, like “Thou shalt not kill.” • Absolute and inviolable regardless of the benefits to society. • “People have a right to privacy.” • It is unacceptable to invade privacy – regardless of societal benefits.

  8. Foundations for ethical decision-making • THE GOLDEN RULE • “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” • It’s hard to know how another person feels.

  9. Foundations for ethical decision-making • Journalism as a whole takes the Utilitarian approach. • By disseminating information in the form of information and words, journalist seeks to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

  10. set up or just clean up? • You see someone remove a soda can in PhotoShop from a photograph going into the yearbook. • While a soda can is a trivial thing, it illustrates a basic ethical question: when can the photographer alter a scene without altering the message and creating an untruth?

  11. set up or just clean up? • Grounds for dismissal • Photographers have been fired for telling people how to pose in photographs. • Overstepping ethical boundaries is a fast way to lose your job.

  12. set up or just clean up? • Changing standards • In the past, it was considered common to set up or rearrange a scene. • Some photos were reenacted. • Over the years, the professional community has gotten much more strict.

  13. RAISING OF THE FLAG AT IWO JIMA

  14. Ethics cont.

  15. a continuum of control • Are all situations that we photograph alike? • Photojournalists cover subjects ranging from war in the Middle East to a fashion shoot in midtown. • Some pictures require complete control (fashion shoot), while others require the hands-off, fly-on-the-wall approach (war).

  16. a continuum of control • Anytime you take pictures, you are affecting the scene to some degree. • People’s behavior changes in the presence of a camera. • Some exaggerate behavior • Some shy away from the camera

  17. a continuum of control • When should the photojournalist remain an observer, removed as much as possible from the scene? • When should the photographer intervene?

  18. a continuum of control • Hidden cameras • Sports photography • Hard news • Features • Portraits • Photo illustrations

  19. hidden cameras

  20. sports photography

  21. hard news

  22. features

  23. portraits

  24. photo illustrations

  25. are photojournalists paparazzi?

  26. photojournalism vs. paparazzi • What’s the difference between paparazzi who photograph celebrities and photojournalists who cover the news?

  27. photojournalism vs. paparazzi

  28. photojournalism vs. paparazzi purpose is different Photojournalism Paparazzi Take pictures to entertain or titillate • Hope to inform the public

  29. guidelines for photographing tragic moments

  30. tragic moments • On conduct • Be early • Stay out of the way • Don’t disrupt what’s going on • Be sensitive • Be compassionate • Don’t badger or chase subjects to the point of annoyance

  31. tragic moments • On equipment • Carry as little as possible • Turn motor off (makes less sound) • Use longest lens possible

  32. tragic moments • On selectivity • Pick your shots carefully • Look for angles and subjects that will not offend subjects’ and readers’ sensitivies

  33. tragic moments • On dress • Wear “appropriate” clothing

  34. covering tragedy and grief

  35. covering tragedy and grief • Using the utilitarian principle of ethical decision making, photographers have a moral responsibility to their readers to show the world accurately, showing its tragedies as well as its triumphs.

  36. covering tragedy and grief • In the long run, individuals cannot make informed decisions without a balanced and accurate picture of the world.

  37. covering tragedy and grief • Photographers have a responsibility not to inflict greater suffering than necessary on survivors of a tragedy.

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