Ethical Decisions: Photoshop and Social Media

Jordan Klimack
jk318014@ohio.edu


As millennials, we have access to information quicker than any generation in the past. At the click of a mouse or tap of a finger, we can access information at an unprecedented rate.

Often times, a picture or image has the ability to alter or form one's opinion on a topic or news story. On social media sites, such as twitter or Facebook, a news article or story is posted with a photo. Therefore, we can assume that before words are read, pictures are seen.

This can mean a couple of things; an opinion can be formed just by the picture posted with an article, before the article is even opened for consumption. Also, photos are necessary in Journalism. They have the ability to work with your words in bringing the piece to life. Likewise, they can provide further context to a message or story the journalist is trying to tell.

Millennials rely on social media for news.
Image via media.licdn.com

The power of a photo cannot be taken for granted. We've already discussed how a photo can help a journalist. Context is huge. So, lets discuss how photos can hurt or discredit journalists.

After all, we are living in the "fake news" era. Fake news is an attack on journalists from politician's looking to discredit information. This came about in an attempt to regulate bad things or information a certain person or organization did not want public. 

So, what does fake news have to do with photos and social media? 

It's simple. As the latest generation of humanity can't seem to put down their phones. Some journalists and media outlets can't fight the urge to provide them with the quickest possible news. The main goal of journalism and reporting is to be accurate. With information available at the tap of a finger, the latest fad in journalism is being the first to report something. The respected journalists and outlets understand this issue; they preach and practice accuracy above all else. 

Take the words of rapper/singer Drake for example, "It's not about who did it first, it's about who did it right." I'm making light of the situation but you get the picture: as journalists, we need to avoid the temptation of being the first to report something. Accuracy is far more important. 

Photo images play into this as well. In many cases, photos are as strong as words, sometimes stronger. They say "a picture is worth a thousand words," in the new era of "fake news," that's certainly true. 

It has been scientifically proven that people have a hard time distinguishing fake news from real news. If one finds it hard to distinguish a fake news story from a real news story, imagine how difficult it is for them to distinguish a fake image from a real image

With recent developments in technology, an image can be modified, changed, or distorted in any way to help convey a message or alter an opinion.

Photoshopped image of Abe Lincoln  further implies the power behind photo editing
Image via the Conservative Daily

Ethical decision making has always been of the utmost importance to anyone involved in any branch of the media. Albeit a journalist or photojournalist, ethical-decision making is part of everyday life for those in such fields of work. 

Now, more than ever, perception of reality has been jaded. It has affected the credibility of journalists of every field (news & information, sports, photojournalism). In an attempt to regain the public's trust, it starts with journalists being transparent. It ends with photojournalists being accurate.