Pictures Are Worth 1000 Words

Julia Cogliano
jc493114@ohio.edu

Pictures Are Worth 1000 Words
Pictures can have a lot more to say to the public, or to anyone during tragic times, than words. When the human eye directly sees something, it makes it more relatable. When a visual picture is given to the reader or the audience, There needs to be a line of what can and can not be posted. For example, a picture of a white sheet may turn a tragic event with causalities into a reality, more so than just a story. The quote,"Part of their power stems precisely from the fact that they show moments of pain and death usually hidden from view," from How Newsrooms Handle Graphic Images of Violence, was very useful for this blog.

Pictures of Violence; are they Informing the Public, or Stressful to the Public?

Picture Courtesy of Canon Camera Clipart

When a tragic event occurs anywhere in the world, it is our responsibility as journalists to report the full truth to the public. To some, pictures are necessary because they are informative, and to others, pictures are distressing. How do we, as journalists, decide where the line is drawn? In my opinion, the line is very grey, so each journalist needs to decide on a case-by-case basis, what is and what is not appropriate to post. Pictures help turn our words into reality. This can be useful, because using pictures in our reporting can help the public transform what may just be a story they think about, into a story that they can feel, mourn, and understand. In my opinion, pictures of violence are informing the public of a story that needs to be heard, and felt. The pictures of violence that are published to the public, however, should not be of a shocking material. What I mean by that, is that the pictures published should not be harsh to the point that a viewer can be traumatized, or heavily effected by the sight.

When Is It Appropriate To Post Pictures?
As mentioned before, journalists need to be responsible and decide on a case-by-case basis of what is and is not appropriate to post, picture wise. In any situation, journalists need to be respectful to all victims, family members, and observers. When journalists publish anything to the public, we always need to keep in mind that our words will be available to anyone to read, at anytime, for forever. I believe that no matter how much experience a journalist may have, they should always remember that their posts will be available forever. I feel as if it is appropriate for pictures to be posted if the victim's identity remains private and respected, and as long as it is not shocking to the public. I believe that it is appropriate for journalists to post pictures with caution, as long as they aren't bias.
According to the article Images Can Send Reassuring, Dangerous Signals During Libya Coverage,  the article claims that "Singular images can sometimes define how Americans respond." I believe that this can be a good thing, because images can influence viewers to be more understanding or sympathetic to a situation. In conclusion, I think it is appropriate to post pictures if they can help readers understand the story better, if the picture is still respectful to the victim and their families.