Ethics

Photographic and video images can reveal great truths, expose wrongdoing and neglect, inspire hope and understanding and connect people around the globe through the language of visual understanding. Photographs can also cause great harm if they are callously intrusive or are manipulated.

The National Press Photographers Association, NPPA Code of Ethics

Photojournalism can sometimes be a difficult industry to discuss. The general rule is that photojournalism should be exposing a reality, with no attempt of being misleading. The code of ethics however is not so black and white and editors and photojournalists must consider each case individually. On this matter photojournalist author Kenneth Kobre writes, “Photojournalism has no Bible, no rabbinical college, no Pope to define correct choices.” Photojournalists are constantly faced with having to make decisions which honour their industry. Editing of any form is one of the greatest issues of current times, one must also consider the explicitly of his/her imagery, images of a sexual or violent nature may be acceptable in some countries and not in other. The subject’s integrity is also an issue, no being should be deliberately humiliated for the sake of a photograph and without a doubt no one’s life should ever be put into jeopardy. Professor Paul Martin Lester outlines six philosophies in his book, Photojournalism: An Ethical Approach, California State University Fullerton to help guide photojournalists in their image taking.

1.      The Categorical Imperative; this is stating that what goes for one person should go for everyone. Furthermore if considering the publication of a partially naked woman, consider whether the publication would still be made if it was a male or perhaps an elderly of obese subject.

2.      Utilitarianism; thinking about the greater good. People often consider the families of victims who died in car crashes when their story is spread across a newspaper, however if the article is creating a greater awareness and helping to keep the streets safer, then the publication of the image becomes righteous because it is creating a greater good.

3.      Hedonism; an example of hedonism would be printing a provocative front page image in order to sell a newspaper.

4.      The Golden Mean; if available use the less offensive and invasive image, the aim of photojournalism should be to tell a story, not to shock it’s viewers.

5.      The Veil of Ignorance; asking the photographer/editor how they would feel in their subject’s position and then reconsidering the publication of the image.

6.      The Golden Rule; although this of course depends on the photojournalist’s own morals and ethics, the idea is for the photojournalist to treat his/her subjects with respect as they would expect to be treated.

Julie Jacobson's controversial photo ethical?