Throughout history the role of a photojournalist has been to educate the world via news imagery; it is a profession in which journalists make news-editorial images for print and screen (television and computer) media.
But is it Authentic Photography ???
Photojournalism today is under attack ever more so due to the rise and spread of computer technology that allows practically anyone to produce or manipulate visual messages in massive of numbers for a world wide audience. Even though manipulation was possible and could have been adhered to throughout the years within the darkroom, modern digital manipulation can not always be detected therefore raises further suspicion by the critics to actually believing is the photograph in question displaying a true representation of an event?
"But as long as photojournalists do not subtract or add parts of a picture's internal elements, almost any other manipulation (editing) once accomplished in a photographic darkroom is considered ethical for news-editorial purposes."
A visual journalist has to uphold a trusted responsibility to the public and employ that they are capturing and recording a true depiction of the subject in hand.
NPPA - The National Press Photographers Association is dedicated to the advancement of visual journalism, its creation, practice, training, editing and distribution, in all news media and works to promote its role as a vital public service.
I found the NPPA's website to be most helpful in my understanding of the morals and ethics surrounding photojournalism , below is their advised code of ethics;- Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects.
- Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities.
- Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Recognize and work to avoid presenting one's own biases in the work.
- 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.
- While photographing subjects do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or influence events.
- Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.
- Do not pay sources or subjects or reward them materially for information or participation.
- Do not accept gifts, favors, or compensation from those who might seek to influence coverage.
- Do not intentionally sabotage the efforts of other journalists.
Ideally, visual journalists should:
- Strive to ensure that the public's business is conducted in public. Defend the rights of access for all journalists.
- Think proactively, as a student of psychology, sociology, politics and art to develop a unique vision and presentation. Work with a voracious appetite for current events and contemporary visual media.
- Strive for total and unrestricted access to subjects, recommend alternatives to shallow or rushed opportunities, seek a diversity of viewpoints, and work to show unpopular or unnoticed points of view.
- Avoid political, civic and business involvements or other employment that compromise or give the appearance of compromising one's own journalistic independence.
- Strive to be unobtrusive and humble in dealing with subjects.
- Respect the integrity of the photographic moment.
- Strive by example and influence to maintain the spirit and high standards expressed in this code. When confronted with situations in which the proper action is not clear, seek the counsel of those who exhibit the highest standards of the profession. Visual journalists should continuously study their craft and the ethics that guide it.
"But no matter how the tools of journalism change, fundamental ethical concerns still apply. Displaying violent, sensational images for economic reasons, violating a person's privacy before the judicial process can function, manipulating news-editorial pictures to alter their content, stereotyping individuals into pre-conceived categories and blurring the distinction between advertising and editorial messages were journalism concerns in 1895, are important topics in 1995 and will be carefully considered issues, no doubt, in 2095. Professionals, academics and students owe it to their readers to be sensitive to unethical practices that demean the profession and reduce the credibility of journalism."
Like the past, the future of ethics in photojournalism belongs to technology. Digital photography
casts new doubts on the process through which the photograph goes from camera to publication. More and more people are not only consuming photographic news media electronically, they are actively participating in news gathering, using mobile phone cameras. These “citizen journalists” are seeing their work in newspapers and magazines next to images by professional photojournalists. At the same time, editors are being inundated with photographs both during and after major news events, leaving them less time to make ethics decisions. All of these trends can only continue into the future.
Photojournalism's Future?
After searching the internet I came across a website and discussion blog dedicated to the opinions surrounding photojournalism by David Campbell http://www.david-campbell.org/
I found his thorough research into the subject very informative which has given me a greater understanding into the subject, how photojournalism has changed since the 1970's and continues to be marketed around the globe.
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