Ethics in the Age of Digital Photography A lecture by John Long of the Hartford Courant, Chair of the NPPA Ethics Committee
Photojournalism is in the midst of a paradigm shift •
In the age of silver-based negatives and prints, photographs were considered virtually unalterable representations of a moment in time
•
Negatives cannot be imperceptibly changed and accurately reflect a moment in time
•
Original digital images can be imperceptibly altered
•
This is widely known public knowledge
•
The new paradigm views photographs as mutable, changing objects
The concept of “Truth” in Journalism •
The concept of Truth can vary from individual to individual, based on personal beliefs, mores, and values
•
Truth is an imprecise term for use in ethical discussion in journalism
Fairness and Accuracy •
These are better terms for framing ethical discussion in journalism
•
Fairness in journalism entails a legitimate pursuit for knowledge and information – don't misrepresent!
•
Fairness in photography means that photographs must be honest representations of a moment
•
Accuracy in journalism demands a pursuit of correct and precise information
•
Photographers must treat “the moment” as sacred – an accurate representation of what was witnessed
Credibility •
Accuracy drives the news business: without it, there is no credibility
•
The public MUST believe that the information they receive from the news media is accurate
•
Digital improprieties have caused a problem with credibility in the eyes of the public
•
The public understands the paradigm shift and is suspicious of photographs
•
Practitioners of photojournalism must protect the integrity of photographs at all costs if they are to retain public trust
Honesty •
THIS generation of new photojournalists will help define honesty in photographs – That means YOU!
•
Presenting honesty is the challenge in the current environment
Context •
The public has little expectation for honest photos in certain publications such as tabloids, entertainment, or fashion mags
•
The public has great expectations for honest photos in the news media
•
If the integrity of photographs are valued as much integrity of the written word, digital missteps should never happen
!1
Lying with Photographs •
Changing the content of the moment captured in a photograph is a visual lie
•
Digitally altered photographs or digital composite photographs presented in the context of news are visual lies
•
No amount of captioning can justify a digital lie
•
If a photograph looks real, in the context of news, it better be real
•
Photo Illustrations are a legitimate use of photography, even in news publications, but they must LOOK like illustrations
•
Once the picture has been made, journalists need to preserve the integrity of the moment
•
Toning, color correction, and lightening and darkening (dodging and burning) certain areas of photographs are okay – as long as it's done with restraint and done only to ensure that the photo reproduces correctly and reproduces the scene as the photographer experiences it
“Taste” issues •
Ethics are about lying, cheating, dishonesty, digital manipulation, etc.
•
Taste is about photographing and publishing pictures of grief, bodies, blood, emotional issues, etc.
•
When deciding on whether or not to run controversial pictures, ask if the public needs the pictures to make informed choices
•
Photographs have more emotional impact than words
•
Consider a subject's dignity when deciding whether to publish or not, but keep in mind that there might be an overriding issue concerning the public's need for information
Professional Ethics vs. Personal Ethics •
Professional ethics traditionally say that a journalist's job is only to observe and report, not to interfere with or influence events – to be a witness, not a participant
•
We are human beings, FIRST
•
Anticipate issues and consider how to deal with them ahead of time instead of in the heat of the moment
Questions to ask concerning Credibility 1. In what context is the photograph being used? 2. Is the photograph a fair and accurate representation of the information being presented? 3. Does the photograph deceive the reader?
Closing Points •
Photographs allow readers to see history as it happened and to be part of it through the photographer's eyes.
•
Pictures have power when they are REAL.
•
REAL photographs have the power to change society.
!2
What about NOW? Long says that this generation of journalists – that means YOU – is going to have to help the public define what a REAL photograph is. What IS real? Why is that important? Here are some of the issues you may need to grapple with in order for the news media to generate trust and maintain it in the future: 1. Photographs help shape the public's perception of the world more than ever. How can journalists best influence that perception in a positive, responsible way? 2. The Public is increasingly getting information about the world from Social Media. That trend is unlikely to subside. What role will social media and applications, such as Instagram and Facebook, play in reporting the news, visually or otherwise? 3. The public is increasingly distrustful of the news media. Why is that? What photographic and visual practices will lead the public to accept news photographs as fair and accurate representations of what a photojournalist witnesses first-hand? 4. With photography proliferating as an everyday way of personal expression and of sharing information, professional photojournalists must now complete for attention with – literally – billions of images. a. To what extent should visual journalists be able to express personal vision and style in the interest of gaining attention? b. Where is the threshold between journalistic interpretation and personal artistic license, and who will help define it?
If journalism is to remain a viable profession, these are important questions to answer. In the Information Age, journalists can no longer afford to simply throw information out there and assume it will be taken seriously. In order to evolve and remain relevant, journalism must become a continuing discussion about issues of public interest, and journalists must become directly accountable to the public they serve. As John Long said, “Truth” is a loaded word. There are as many interpretations of “Truth” as there are people on the planet. However, attempts to be fair and accurate can be substantiated. Following professional journalistic practice is something that can be documented, debated and refined. Innovation is a currently popular buzzword in a news industry fighting for survival, as traditional ways to fund relevant journalism dry up. But one could substitute the word ““evolution” for “innovation.” Evolution is largely defined by the concept of natural selection – survival of the fittest. Journalism, as a profession, will survive as long as it remains relevant to a free society. Evolution, as a scientific theory that continues to be validated, appears to have little to do with progress. That is a uniquely human concept. Evolution is chiefly about constant change and survival. It is up to society to frame the evolution of information in terms of “progress,” and journalists can choose to become an integral part of that process. If journalists want to survive and make a living disseminating information, they need to establish their own value to society. Convincingly. And ethics will be a defining issue.
!3
Suggestions for maintaining the credibility of digital images: Preserve all original digital images 1.
Archive them as they were recorded by the camera
2. Save any changes made in post-processing as copies!
Develop a policy for digital image processing 1. Clearly define what's allowable and what's NOT allowable 2. Be accountable! a. Strictly enforce the policy i. with staff photographers ii. with freelance contributors iii. with submissions from the public b. Publish the policy so it's a matter of public record
Constantly engage the public in discussions about credibility • Discuss WHY credibility is important, and how it can be achieved • Develop and discuss methods for authenticating information, visual or otherwise • Develop platforms for easy discussion, examination, and feedback
!4
