Photo Ethics It’s a matter of doing what’s right, what should be done, or what accepted professional standards ask us to do.

Is the public losing faith in journalism’s reporting and photography? Why? Do photographs lie? How? What kind of ethical situations do news photographers face?

The computer makes all images malleable changeable fluid All images are called into question Photos are no longer “fixed” images

Journalists have only one thing to offer: CREDIBILITY Credibility in photojournalism has been eroded Credibility is damaged each time a news organization “lies” by doctoring a photograph

As early as 1982, the industry has manipulated photographs February 1982

Other famous cases: June 1994

December 1997

The Valley Daily News, May 1970 Life magazine 1995

Texas Monthly cover July 1992

University of Wisconsin 2001-2002 Admissions Application

Brian Walski March 2003 Los Angeles Times

Degrees of electronic changes to photographs Technical Content

Technical changes Deal only with aspects of the photo that make it more readable a little dodging, burning global color correction contrast control for over-exposure/underexposure

Technical changes are like a grammar of photography - allow us to read them Are neither ethical or unethical, just technical

Content changes are: Essential Accidental

Essential changes are: Change the meaning of the photo Accidental changes: Change useless details, but don’t change the meaning of the photo

Accidental change - the meaning remains the same John Filo Kent State May 4, 1970 Accidental change - the meaning remains the same Is this acceptable?

“I don’t think the public cares if it is a little lie or a big lie “I don’t think the public cares if it is a little lie or a big lie. As far as they are concerned, once the shutter has been tripped and the MOMENT has been captured on film, in the context of news, we no longer have the right to change the content of the photo in any way. Any change to the news photo - any violation of that MOMENT - is a lie. Big or small, any lie damages your credibility.” John Long Past President of the National Press Photographer’s Assoc.

If our readers can't count on honesty from us, I don't know what we have left. Colin Crawford LA Times Director of Photography There is not ever a good time for such manipulation, but this is the worst time. What really differentiates us from other photographers and media is our credibility. We have a history of getting it right, accurately… Our credibility is all that we have. Vincent LaForet NYT photographer

Changes to content can be either accidental or essential-but both ARE changes.

Other ethical considerations: When is the photo too painful to run? When does the photographer put down the camera? Does it shock or inform? When do you run the photo or refrain?

First published in the Boston Herald, readers reacted with horror to the image. The media was charged with invading the privacy of the woman and child as well as pandering to sensationalism. The photo also prompted officials in Boston to rewrite laws regarding fire escape safety. It won the Pulizer Prize for spot news photography in 1976. Fire escape collapses, 1975, Boston Stanley Forman

In 1987 Pennsylvania State Treasurer R In 1987 Pennsylvania State Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer shot himself during a televised news conference.

Five-year-old boy drowns in lake, Bakersfield, California John Harte

May 1980

Kenneth Lyons July 29, 1993

October 4, 1993 Toronto Star Paul Watson

Buddhist monks protest the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government Malcolm Browne NYT, 1963

Tami Chappell, Reuters 2003

Mike Terry Deseret Morning News 2007 Salt Lake City Mall shooting Salt Lake City, UT mall shooting Feb. 12, 2007 Mike Terry Deseret Morning News

Real photos can change the hearts and minds of people.

Eddie Adams