Picture this: Today, accuracy in photography is seen as important as accuracy in reporting. Altering is forbidden. From the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists archives.
Category Archives: Photos
Canada Media and Royals Clash
Canada media and royals clash: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle warn media about privacy, writes Darcy Schild.
It’s “new territory” for Canadian media and privacy laws, which are “relatively undefined.”
Offensive Halloween Photo
Offensive Halloween photo: Recalling a controversial 2014 photo of an effigy scene in a homeowner’s yard near Clarksville, Tenn.
A website news director uses the photo, then calls the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists when the homeowner objects to the photo. Keep the photo up or take it down? From the archives.
Detecting Deepfake Videos
Detecting deepfake videos: Fake videos pose a grave threat to the 2020 elections, writes Olivia Beavers, unless media adopt policies to tell real videos from forgeries.
“In the internet age, newsrooms have scrutinized images and videos to determine whether they are authentic or fake,” she writes. “But deepfakes will be a more difficult challenge, particularly because artificial intelligence makes the authenticity of such videos indistinguishable to the human eye and forgeries harder to detect.”
The Perils of Identification
The perils of identification: Obtaining permission is not the same as informed consent, writes Megan Frye.
A New York Times story about gang violence in Honduras including real names and photos is criticized for failing to recognize dangers.
Use Of Graphic Photos Explained:
Use of graphic photos explained: iMediaEthics writer Sydney Smith tells why the Associated Press, The New York Times and USA Today published photos of a dead man and his daughter drowned in the Rio Grande.
Deemed a moment in time showing the danger and desperation of immigrants from Central America.
Photos Of Dead Bodies
Photos of dead bodies: Images of the bodies of a man and his daughter drowned in the Rio Grande are examples of journalists showing a truth the public would prefer not to see, writes Kelly McBride.
“Don’t exploit horrific photos without a journalistic purpose,” she advises. “But don’t hide them or place too many barriers in front of them, lest you duck your most important job.”
Ethics Of Showing Horrifying Images
Ethics of showing horrifying images: Photos of the bodies of a drowned man and his daughter on the bank of the Rio Grande raise questions about how far media should go in using such images.
They stir debates over news value, focusing public attention on tragedy and dilemmas and psychological impacts. The Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics says show good taste and avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
Using Drones In Journalism
Using drones in journalism: Newsrooms need policies on using drones, according to a Center for Journalism Ethics report.
“While news organizations and individual journalists are safely integrating drones into their daily operations, as well as the national airspace, it is crucial to remember that this evolving technology still faces many regulatory and legislative hurdles, not to mention privacy issues and ethical concerns,” says the report.
Student Reporters Covering Shootings
Student reporters covering shootings: The threat of an active shooter on campus confronts student journalists with a perfect storm, writes Maitreyi Anantharaman. There isn’t time to be scared.
The erosion of local newsrooms forces college publications to step in as papers of record, she writes.
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