Photojournalism and Photo Essays

Photojournalism described as

“the craft of employing photographic storytelling to document life: it is universal and transcends cultural and language bounds.”

The Downturn of the EconomyBy Anthony Suau

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1738458,00.html

Spiritual Healing Around the World

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1878443,00.html

Making a Caption Who, What, When Where, WhyWhy

Top Left: Astronaut Michael Barratt trains for a trip to the International to the International Space StationSpace Station at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan

Bottom Left: Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men dance while celebrating the holidaywhile celebrating the holiday at a synagogue in Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim neighborhood

Bottom Right: In the northern city of Mathura, Hindu devotees celebrate the festival of Holi by throwing colored powder on each other

The development of news photography in the 19th century supported claims by newspapers that they reported events as they happened, objectively.

Today, the ethics of photojournalism goes far beyond the ethics of the newspaper photo. It includes the millions of news-related images that appear on our televisions, cell phones, computer screens and other multi-media devices. We are an image-saturated world.

Ethics inPhotojournalism

Ethics in Photojournalism:Manipulation of Digital Images

With Photoshop and the availability of many editing programs, photos can be edited to change the meaning of the picture

Example: After OJ Simpson was arrested for the murder of his wife, both Newsweek and Time Magazine released his mug shot except Time Magazine darkened the image in order to make him seem “more guilty”

Time Magazine was criticized Issue was exceptionally

controversial because he was still on trial at the time and these images could easily affect the jury, even if they were isolated from the public

Ethics in Photojournalism:Intrusion of Privacy When is it legitimate to

take pictures of people in private moments?

Should photojournalists capture images of politicians, movie stars and other public figures in private spaces?

Should photojournalists take shots of families in grief, or victims of tragedy?

The public perception of the journalist, and of the news media in general, has suffered from unjustified intrusions into privacy.

The ethical question is: When is intrusion justified?

Ethics of Photojournalism:Graphic or Shocking Images

How graphic should -- or must -- images be to tell the news story?

If news outlets use graphic pictures of war, they are accused of exploiting the pain of others. If they avoid graphic photos, they are accused of “sanitizing” the conflict.

What criteria should guide photo decisions -- local or community standards? Newsworthiness? Dramatic impact? A commitment to tell the whole truth?

“What is the real journalistic value of the photographs? What do they prove and why are they news? Do they dispel or affirm information the public had prior to seeing the images?”

By looking at the photos in terms of what they add to the news, editors should be able to determine whether publication is appropriate.

Ethics of Photojournalism:General Guidelines

Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects.

Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities.

Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context.

Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see.

Respect the integrity of the photographic moment.