Transitions and Pronoun Reference

Pronoun Reference: Is it clear to whom your pronoun refers? Does your pronoun match the noun it refers to? In the case of Time magazine, they lost some credibility when they edited the picture of O.J. Simpson to make him look darker.

In today ’ s society altering photographs was not a relatively new practice; sure with the invention of the computer it made it ten times easier to alter photographs, it all began with the first photo and a pencil.

To someone who merely looks at the photograph and takes it for what it is, they would have been fooled.

Transitions link ideas together and help me follow your logic. Next, Stephens states that digital alteration has its positive purposes. He says these photos can educate us, and allow us to see what may happen in the future, as well as the past- “ the idea should be to clarify, not pretend ” (para. 9).

A rhetorical appeal that Stephens uses is logos. He uses the logic when he explains what words can do and what photos can ’ t but if they come together they can give us different possibilities and create interesting things. In the essay “ Ethics in the Age of Digital Photography ” John Long says that credibility and truth is what journalists have to give to the public (para 4, Long 666).

Stephens brings some examples of opposing views such as a comment made by David M. Rubin; Rubin concluded that “ New York Newsday has taken leave of its ethical moorings ” (Para. 3). Mitchell Stephens makes an interesting debate by describing other forms of photographic manipulation. He states that photographers often change angles, use filters, adjust brightness, and may also change some colors.

Stephens believes that the digital manipulations of photographs can be done as long as it doesn ’ t fool people. He also believes that if an alteration is made, it should be labeled clearly next to the photograph. The manipulation of photographs is often seen in magazines. Stephens also talks about how the use of language has altered the way people look and think about the picture.

Passive Voice With times changing digital photography is being seen as “ an early indication that news images might finally be coming of age, ” (para. 5). Another argument made is that the changing of photos is like the changing of words.

Before photographers were able to rework photographs there was limited editing that took place and photographs were basically held back.

With people being able to digitally alter photos it was said that “A composite photograph is not the truth” (para. 2).

Dealing with Titles Short works in quotes, long works in italics In the first couple of paragraphs of the article Mr. Stephens presents the story of how New York Newsday Magazine altered a picture of Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan.

Mitchell Stephens Expanding the Language of Photographs states that photography in collaboration with the words of the press is a new way of tainting the truth.

PARAPHRASE: Use unique words and structures or you could be plagiarizing! As Stephens explains the then dean of Columbia University ’ s graduate program for journalism, Stephen D. Isaacs, comes out to defend journalism ’ s accuracy and reliability (Stephens 658). Original: “ Defenders of journalism ’ s accuracy and reliability quickly grabbed their lances and mounted their steeds ” (para. 3).

He states digital manipulation must be acknowledged. If any shadow has been lightened or any background has been blurred it must be mentioned. Original: “… no lightening of a shadow, no blurring of an inconvenient background without some sort of acknowledgment ” (para. 11).

Possessives When photographers take red spots out of peoples eyes in a photo, change a background, or make subtle changes to a persons face, it is all part of manipulating a picture to make it better. There have been many times when photographers have changed celebrity ’ s bodies and faces.

Use present tense for talking about essays and literature On the other hand, Stephens defended the Newsday, calling it “ an early indication that news images might finally be coming of age ” (para 5). Moreover, the author also mentioned some opposing points of view.

Review: run-ons, comma splices, fragments Long ’ s opinion about modifying a photo is very strong he thinks that “ any lie damages your credibility ” (para 28, Long 670). Although, he does make a point to warn readers that this new technology should be used “ to clarify not to pretend ” (Para. 9).

Stephens quotes a few of his colleagues to show how the journalism community reacted to this event, Stephen D. Isaacs, “ A composite is not the truth … It is a lie and, therefore, a great danger to the standards and integrity of what we do ” (para.3). Also David M. Rubin, “ New York Newsday has taken leave of the ethical moorings ” (para.3).