Opinion: How to improve photojournalism labeling
Posted by Rosemary D'Amour on November 28, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Photos are doctored, enhanced or manipulated by news organizations on a regular basis - and not necessarily maliciously. Sometimes a photo needs to be "enhanced;" for example, a journalist makes tonal adjustments or noise filters to more accurately reflect the environment in which a photo was shot.
Photographer Mark Hamilton offers a new way to describe "enhanced" photos that gives a reader a clear idea of what's been done. Adopting a system that readers understand, "in terms they understand," is the next step toward "transparency" for journalism, establishing a level of honesty about process and allowing readers to "judge veracity."
Photographer Mark Hamilton offers a new way to describe "enhanced" photos that gives a reader a clear idea of what's been done. Adopting a system that readers understand, "in terms they understand," is the next step toward "transparency" for journalism, establishing a level of honesty about process and allowing readers to "judge veracity."
The common way to describe "enhanced" photos in a newspaper is the phrase "photo illustration." Journalists who feel that they've done the "ethical" thing by labeling a photo as such, Hamilton says, are missing the point. Readers have no clear idea what "photo illustration" means.
Photojournalism, Technology and Ethics: What's Right and Wrong Today, a Black Star e-book, details the issue with manipulated photos, and how news organizations can clear up the confusion. Hamilton quotes Michael Coyne, who, offering suggestions within his own bailiwick, feels that "images used in publications, especially news media outlets, should have some sort of symbol, sign or comment notifying the viewer that the images have been manipulated."
Hamiltons's solution is as follows: "adopt a badge with a standard set of labels to accompany photos." The badge will have letters to correspond with how an image has been doctored - for example, "M" would be for a montage, "S" for a photo from a studio, "AS" for as shot. The list can be "expanded as needed" to cover special situations.
Adopting this idea in print would have a challenge - a "glossary" would need to be published in each edition that described the labels. But online, Hamilton says, features could be added that would enhance the reader's experience. Readers could "hover" over the letter symbols, and a pop-up box would explain the meaning, and even link to full explanations of the manipulation.
By "identifying all the common manipulations" the news organization is moving more towards total "transparency," an "emerging new value" of journalism, and helps retain and regain readers, Hamilton says.
Source: Poynter.org
See also:
AP military photo ban: can we trust what we see?
AP lifts temporary ban on photos from US military
Photojournalism, Technology and Ethics: What's Right and Wrong Today, a Black Star e-book, details the issue with manipulated photos, and how news organizations can clear up the confusion. Hamilton quotes Michael Coyne, who, offering suggestions within his own bailiwick, feels that "images used in publications, especially news media outlets, should have some sort of symbol, sign or comment notifying the viewer that the images have been manipulated."
Hamiltons's solution is as follows: "adopt a badge with a standard set of labels to accompany photos." The badge will have letters to correspond with how an image has been doctored - for example, "M" would be for a montage, "S" for a photo from a studio, "AS" for as shot. The list can be "expanded as needed" to cover special situations.
Adopting this idea in print would have a challenge - a "glossary" would need to be published in each edition that described the labels. But online, Hamilton says, features could be added that would enhance the reader's experience. Readers could "hover" over the letter symbols, and a pop-up box would explain the meaning, and even link to full explanations of the manipulation.
By "identifying all the common manipulations" the news organization is moving more towards total "transparency," an "emerging new value" of journalism, and helps retain and regain readers, Hamilton says.
Source: Poynter.org
See also:
AP military photo ban: can we trust what we see?
AP lifts temporary ban on photos from US military
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