For my position paper, I decided to write about controversial pictures and videos in the media. So borrowing from my paper topic because I can't seem to find anything else worth writing about this week, I will briefly discuss my opinion on this issue.
Photojournalists face ethical dilemmas just like anyone involved in the media. One of the biggest dilemmas they come across is when to print and when not to print controversial pictures. While resarching for my paper, I found that many publications decided to print pictures of grieving parents, embarrassing moments, and even death.
While looking through some of these pictures that showed up on front pages years ago, I admitted to myself that the pictures were really good. However, a publication is not a talent show, and printing a picture of a woman covered in her own son's blood after he's been hit by a car is not the best idea (Riverside Press-Enterprise dilemma). I'm a journalist, but I'm also human. When coming to this decision, I put myself in that person's shoes. I would never want a picture of my personal grief on the front page of a newspaper for everyone to see. It's a private moment (which is another topic in itself) not meant to be seen or shared.
Like journalists, photographers have to show some sensitivity to topics such as death and gore, juveniles, and sexuality (or rape). Also like journalists, photographers should still get the whole story. In other words, take the picture; get all the facts. But notice when you have an ethical dilemma before you when deciding what to include in the publication and be aware of the sensitive topic.
RE
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Even though photographers do have occasional ethical lapses in judgment,doesn't some of the responsibility or blame also belong to editors who give the green light for publication?
Yes, I agree, and I hope I mentioned that in my paper. :-)
Post a Comment