HAS PHOTO JOURNALISM GONE TOO FAR?

THE FOLLOWING IMAGES MAY INCLUDE EXTREME CONTENT

• Whether or not the media advises viewers of possible graphic content in its material, would it justify the lack of respect toward its subjects?

LACKING CENSORSHIP

• There are times when articles, websites, news, and other forms of media lack censorship• The 7.0 magnitude

earthquake that struck Haiti, explicit photos popped up everywhere

LACKING CENSORSHIP

• “My critique is about the tone of unnecessary pictures and videos that show pieces of bodies, dying people, the nudity of people, or the misery/tragedy of people in line for food and water. Seriously is this cruelty really necessary to mobilize massive humanitarian action” -Valérie Payen-Jean Baptise

LACKING CENSORSHIP

• The media will at times lack censorship when publishing graphic images to the public.

• Everyone as an audience will not be able to perceive the information at the same level of understanding.

• Could it be that the media won’t censor its content to gain ratings or expand their audience?

• Perhaps the media won’t be more selective with their content for their own benefit.

LACKING DISCRETION ON SENSITIVE SUBJECTS

• When there is a death and the media covers the story, if the victim is not shown as a subject in photographs, the victim’s relatives will be shown.

• Media lacks discretion and respect for its subjects when the material is related to deaths, treating the situation as if it is not serious or a sensitive topic.

LACKING DISCRETION ON SENSITIVE SUBJECTS

• Nora Ephrons’s “The Boston Photographs”

LACKING DISCRETION ON SENSITIVE SUBJECTS

The Boston Photographs

• The Boston photographs were of a fireman’s failed attempt to save a woman and child from a fire escape.• The photos are the

last seconds of the woman’s life.

• Not only does showing relatives in grief on camera rude, but it is disrespectful and shows that some fields of the media have no respect or remorse.

SEEKING HELP OR EXPLOITATION?

• Some may argue that the media’s purpose for exposing such sensitive material may be to seek humanitarian help.

SEEKING HUMANITARIAN HELP OR EXPLOITATION?

• There are other forms of seeking help without having to exploit certain subjects.• For example,

commercial ads for starving children in third world countries.

PHOTOJOURNALISM CODE OF ETHICS

• The photojournalism code of ethics is meant to “promote the highest quality in all forms of visual journalism and to strengthen public confidence in the profession” (NPPA).

PHOTOJOURNALISM CODE OF ETHICS

• The photojournalism code of ethics are to be followed by all journalists, and those who fail to do so should be penalized.

• The code of ethics serve to assure accuracy and ensure the subjects rights and respect.