Topic3: Alterations in journalistic photography

When I thought about this topic, alterations in journalistic photography, it could be ethical. However, I realized that what if people used alterations in journalistic photography, people could not deliver right information to viewers. The reason is that journalistic photography is to say a story and to tell the truth such as issues or news instead of writing. I believe that a photo has a strong influence compared with a written story because people can see and feel the moment. That is why there is a code of ethics guideline photojournalist. Here is one of rules among the ethic guideline which is “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.” Therefore, the journalistic photography should have truth, fact and credibility. And altering photos cannot be ethical because it cause viewers mislead or misrepresenting the subject or story. However, if they use the alteration to just make a photo clear, that can be okay because I think an unclear photo could not deliver information clearly to viewers so that improving image quality and adjustments to contrast and brightness can be ethical.

Above photos are examples of alteration in jurnalistic photography that I found from the largest-circulating newspaper in Egypt, Al-Ahram, published a doctored photo Sept. 14. The photo misrepresents a state meeting and shows five leaders walking together. According to the article, "in the original photo, Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak is seen walking on the far left and steps behind the other leaders present -- Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Barack Obama, Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abduallah II. But, the doctored photo moved Mubarak to the front center of the photo, making it appear that he was leading the group. " So after reading the truth story, do you still think that alterations in journalistic photography could be ethical? I don't think so because it is a fake photo and we should use the alteration for art.


Sources:
http://www.stinkyjournalism.org/editordetail.php?id=877