1. Ethics in Photojournalism
What are the goals of photojournalism?
Factual depiction?
Convey a story?
Objective?
Clearly explains the subject?
Current state of affairs?

2. NPPA Code of Ethics

3. Ethics in Photojournalism
Case Studies:
Photo processing
Photo manipulation
Tragic subjects Reporting bias

4. Case studies in ethics: Photo processing
After O.J. Simpson’s arrest on murder chargers, both Newsweek and Time ran articles with Simpson’s mugshot

5. Case studies in ethics: Photo processing
In 2003, Patrick Schneider was fired over his processing of photos

6. Case studies in ethics: Photo processing
Newsweek ran a cropped version of the image as an editorial cover:

7. Case studies in ethics: Photo manipulation
National Geographic compressed this image of the Pyramids to fit it onto their 1982 cover

8. Case studies in ethics: Photo manipulation
LA Times ran the top photo by Brian Walski. It was a composite of two separate photos (bottom)

9. Case studies in ethics: Photo manipulation
Allan Detrich was fired for his modified photo, in which he removed a pair of legs

10. Case studies in ethics: Photo manipulation
Questions to ask:
What are we allowed to adjust?
What can we definitely not adjust?
Where is the line drawn?
Tool-based?
Change in image content?
Intent?
Different standards for type of publication?

11. Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects
Robert Kennedy moments after being shot by assassin Sirhan Sirhan

12. Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects
A woman and her child fall from a collapsed fire escape in Boston. The child survived the fall; the woman did not.
A man jumps from the World Trade Center during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

13. Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects
The family of Edward Romero grieves over his body – the 5-year-old Romero died in an accidental drowning

14. Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects
Kevin Carter took this image of a starving child in Sudan

15. Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects
In this Reuters image, a man discards bodies of victims in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake

16. Case studies in ethics: Tragic subjects
Questions to ask:
Are graphic images appropriate?
Should they be handled specially?
Depend on the publication audience?
Taking photos while someone is in need?
Taking photos while someone is in need, but not being able to help anyway?
Privacy intrustion into victims?
Benefits of publicizing tragedy?
Is it an editorial decision?

17. Case studies in ethics: Bias
A US national receives medical treatment during the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake

18. Case studies in ethics: Bias
In 2000, NY Times ran this image of a supposed Palestinian, with the implication that the Israeli policeman had beat him. The victim was in fact a Jewish student, who had been beaten by Arabs.

19. Case studies in ethics: Bias
President George W. Bush holds a turkey during Thanksgiving dinner at a base in Iraq. The turkey was a decorative centerpiece, and not edible. Food was actually served on cafeteria-style steam trays.

20. Case studies in ethics: Bias
Arthur Rothstein moved the skull from its original position (right) and onto a dryer flat area (left), in a photo series documenting drought conditions in South Dakota.

21. Case studies in ethics: Bias
Lebanese air raid photo op:

22. Case studies in ethics: Bias
Avoid bias:
Fully research cutline info
Fully disclose all relevant info
Avoid sensationalism
Avoid staged photos, by yourself and by subjects
Moving objects around?