Transcript ppt

Digital Manipulation
J3: 2003
Coming up
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Ethics and Debate
Summary of Literature Survey
Technology
Grocott’s Capacity, Other Policies and Examples
Industry Opinions
Recommendations for Grocott’s
Ethics and Debate
• Ways of viewing photography: Constructivist vs
Realist
• Pros and cons of digital manipulation
• Interpretation vs Reflection
• Cooper: “journalists are becoming their own
gatekeepers”
Summary of Literature Survey
• Physical manifestation of ‘a truth’;
perceived as reality
• Digital manipulation threatens representation of
truth
• Monty Cooper “manipulated photographs are
indistinguishable from reality”
Literature Survey cont.
• Ethical and moral obligations of
photojournalists
• Loss of credibility and loss of readers trust =
bad for sales
• Political persuasion?
Technology
• Pros:
– Cheaper than film once implemented
– Easier and faster
– More accessible
• Cons:
– Easy to abuse
– Can distort meaning
Grocott’s Capacity, Other Policies and
Examples
• Grocott’s:
– Limited resources
• Die Burger, The Argus, Mail& Guardian,
American Publications
Example 1
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Example 2
Industry Opinions
• Die Burger:
– “unnecessary to manipulate a scene to represent
truth”
– “it’s only acceptable if clear to the reader that it’s been
done”
– “cropping and colour adjustments are allowed only as
far as it enhances the story of the photo”
Industry opinions cont.
• Trevor Crighton
- “wrong for news”
- “different for advertising and
magazines”
- “once start, can’t stop”
Industry opinions cont.
• Steven Penny (Grocott’s)
- does crop, alter light, and has
spliced photos
• Mike Lowe (ECN)
- reporters take photos; not
trained photojournalists
Recommendations for Grocott’s
• Must not change content and meaning of photos.
Therefore:
– No manipulation allowed unless with unanimous
consent from ‘photography panel’ and then with
details of adjustments in caption
– ‘photography panel’ established from members of
Grocott’s editorial team.
– Subjects of photographs should be notified of any
alterations.