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Journalism Ethics: The Global Debate This photo of an Army soldier at a polling place was digitally altered to make the soldier appear to be a guerilla. His hat was changed, his watch removed and a patch was added to his shoulder. found a photo of two armed guerrillas, one man and one woman, in the jungle. They superimposed the two guerrillas over the scene of the ballot box in the empty plaza, even adding shadows behind the guerrillas. (See before and after illustrations.) In the first case, there was no indication at all in the magazine that the photo had been manipulated. In the second case, a small caption under the photo indicated that it was a “photo montage.” Other than that, there were no other captions explaining what the pictures showed. Marta Ruiz, who directs the Antonio Nariño Foundation in Colombia, which assists journalists in peril, said that it is very common for the media in her country to use deceptive photos or video images. In addition to digitally manipulating photos, she said, publications or television stations will often “stage” photo or video shots. These two unrelated photos were combined digitally to make it appear that guerillas were guarding the ballot box. Note the shadows added behind them. International Center for Journalists
Case Studies: Accuracy and Fairness For example, she knows of cases in which a photographer or TV cameraman arrived at the scene of a battle or civilian massacre after the bodies had already been removed. The photographers told living people to lie down where the bodies were, covered them up with sheets and took pictures, she said. Readers or viewers were given no indication that the bodies were not the actual victims. The media justified the images by saying that the fake bodies were placed exactly where the real ones were, so no false information was given to the readers or viewers. In other cases, Ruiz said, photographers and video crews ask newsmakers to re-enact events for the Questions for Discussion 1. Was Cambio justified in manipulating the photos? Does it matter that the manipulation was used to illustrate a story that included reliable sources saying that what was shown in the manipulated photos really was happening? 2. The magazine indicated that one of the manipulated photos was a “photo montage.” Does that justify using the photo? Do most readers understand what a photo montage is? Could the magazine have done anything else to inform readers what it did? 3. Is it ever right to manipulate photos digitally? Does it matter what kind of stories they are illustrating? (For example, is it acceptable to do things in feature stories that are not acceptable in news stories?) Does it matter if the reader is informed that the photo was changed? If so, how should the reader be informed? 4. During the 2003 war in Iraq, a photographer for the Los Angeles Times took several photos of a British soldier guarding a group of Iraqis. One photo showed the soldier dramatically holding out his hand to the crowd in a gesture of control. Another photo showed a man in the crowd rising up, holding a baby. The photographer combined the two shots into one aesthetically pleasing photo. When editors found out that they had published an altered photo (after being shown that some people in the background were repeated in the photo), they fired the photographer. Was that proper? 5. Is it acceptable to “stage” or recreate a camera or video shot? Is the answer different if what is shown in the “staged” image never actually happened or if it really did happen, but not while the photographer was present? Should readers or viewers be informed that the image is a recreation? 6. Imagine that you are a photographer taking pictures at a festival where two opposing candidates are campaigning. Although they dislike each other vehemently, the two candidates reluctantly shake hands when they see each other at the festival. But you missed the shot. Would you ask the candidates to shake hands again for your camera? 7. What effect does altering or “staging” images have on the 57
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Journalism Ethics The Global Debate
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Contents 5 Introduction 11 A Global
Page 5 and 6: Introduction Introduction Journalis
Page 7 and 8: Introduction constitutional governm
Page 9 and 10: Introduction
Page 11 and 12: Journalism Ethics Journalism Ethics
Page 13 and 14: Journalism Ethics the fewest prejud
Page 15 and 16: Journalism Ethics involves complex
Page 17 and 18: Newsroom Decision Making Newsroom D
Page 19 and 20: Newsroom Decision Making Together,
Page 21 and 22: Newsroom Decision Making The stakeh
Page 23 and 24: Newsroom Decision Making
Page 25 and 26: Case Studies: Freedom and Responsib
Page 49 and 50: Case Studies: Accuracy and Fairness
Page 55: Case Studies: Accuracy and Fairness
Page 63 and 64: Case Studies:: Independence Case St
Page 65 and 66: Case Studies:: Independence 4. Shou
Page 67 and 68: Case Studies:: Independence Journal
Page 69 and 70: Case Studies:: Independence newsroo
Page 71 and 72: Case Studies:: Independence newspap
Page 73 and 74: Case Studies:: Independence pushed
Page 75 and 76: Case Studies:: Independence to make
Page 77 and 78: Case Studies:: Independence Saddam
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Page 81 and 82: Final Notes While ethical discussio
Page 83 and 84: Appendices • Avoid misleading ree
Page 85 and 86: Appendices 85
Page 87 and 88: Appendices Appendix C Ethics Resour
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