Hilary Clinton and counterterrorism director, Audrey Tomason has been digitally removed in a picture posted in the New York newspaper of where Barack Obama and his staff were in the White House. The photojournalist Di Tzetung apologized and declared that “long standing editorial policy” that showing images of the female form is “immodest”. Thus, women’s images should not be published in the newspaper.
The innovation of technology such as Adobe Photoshop has created a new age of photography. Objects can be removed or inserted in an image with the click of mouse. The 'Truth" can be altered and public reception will be misled.
Image has tremendous impact to evoke emotional responses. Photojournalism is an instructive and revealing process. Age-old axioms assure that the “camera never lies” and “seeing is believing” (Berger 1989). Viewers often believe that the photographs they see because most of them assume their eyes do not deceive them. Thus, a photojournalist should report and interpret news honestly, accurately, fairly and disclose essentials facts. The publication should be faithful and truthful representation of images to the public. (Patterson & Wilkins 2008)
In my point of view, photojournalist should not manipulate images or alter in the way that could mislead viewers or misrepresent subject. According to the rule no. 6 of the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics, editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images’ content and context.
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References
Berger, Arthur ASA 1989, Seeing is Believing, Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Co.
National Press Photographers Association 2011, NPPA Code of Ethics, viewed on 30th October 2011, <http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/ethics.html>
Patterson, P & Wilkins, L 2008, Media Ethics: Issues and Cases, 6th Edition, McGraw Hill High Education, New York.
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