Ethics Violations

This week we read about various aspects of journalism ethics. the readings gave a number of scenarios that if navigated differently, could have avoided ethics violations. The reading about the dead body photograph made me reference some of the topics being discussed in my visual communications class. We talk about the importance of photographic elements like composition and how to capture a moment in time. The photographer John Harte was doing his job in trying to capture the tragedy of the scene. Photographers are supposed to snap images that can convey the emotion of the event and draw viewers to sympathize or take action. In that class we also talk about the role of editors that select which images to use. Ultimately, in this scenario the photographer is not in the wrong in my mind, if there is to be blame placed on someone, I believe the error is in the decision to publish the photo.

It is interesting to hear the managing editor Robert Bentley say that the criticism they received was just an example of how out of touch the media is with their audiences. In this particular case, the photographer captured a moment that was so personal and intimate that some may say violated personal privacy lines but that insight into the tragedies that impact people's lives can seperate journalists from the public and make them insensitive to viewers if depicted it the wrong manner. It's a hard line to walk because while you want to get that extraodinary shot but you also want to make sure that can maintain that public trust and not violate codes of courtesy.

On another note, the GM article made me so mad because how could NBC try to defend their investigative story when the demonstrations were staged and jerry-rigged to create intense visuals that were not realistic and true to the circumstances??