This week, we've been discussing ethics in a copy editing class I teach. One topic was the ethics of photo manipulation. And then comes the L.A. Times to prove that Life imitates education.

On March 31, Brian Walski, an LA Times photog since 1998, did a combat photoshop, combining two news photos to improve composition. In doing so, he made the photo appear that a British photo was menacing an Iraqi civilian. Again, you can see both photos and the composite at this link

Relevant Ethical standards:

Society of Professional Journalists: Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.

National Press Photographer's Association code of ethics:
4. As journalists, we believe that credibility is our greatest asset. In documentary photojournalism, it is wrong to alter the content of a photograph in any way (electronically or in the darkroom) that deceives the public. We believe the guidelines for fair and accurate reporting should be the criteria for judging what may be done electronically to a photograph.

NPPA Digital Ethics: journalists we believe the guiding principle of our profession is accuracy; therefore, we believe it is wrong to alter the content of a photograph in any way that deceives the public.
As photojournalists, we have the responsibility to document society and to preserve its images as a matter of historical record. It is clear that the emerging electronic technologies provide new challenges to the integrity of photographic images ... in light of this, we the National Press Photographers Association, reaffirm the basis of our ethics: Accurate representation is the benchmark of our profession. We believe photojournalistic guidelines for fair and accurate reporting should be the criteria for judging what may be done electronically to a photograph. Altering the editorial content ... is a breach of the ethical standards recognized by the NPPA. (emphasis mine)

To which comes the inevitable question: What were you thinking? Every photojournalist knows you don't combine two photos to "improve composition" in news photojournalism. This just gives the profession a black eye and damages credibility even further.

The consequences: Because of the violation, Walski, a Times photographer since 1998, has been dismissed from the staff.

It's going to be a long flight home from Iraq. Few things in journalism are as serious an offense as plagiarism. Digitally altering a news photo is one of those things.

hat tip: Instapundit

Cross-posted at: Arguing with signposts...

Posted By bryan at April 3, 2003 09:40 AM | TrackBack