Photo and Video Manipulation in the Media

Megan Parks
mp590317@ohio.edu

What is Manipulation?

Photo manipulation is far from a new concept, however with the increase of media platforms, it has become easier and more socially accepted in recent years. According to Dictionary.com, manipulation means "to manage or influence skillfully, especially in an unfair manner." 

Why is Manipulation Harmful?

While manipulation in the media, especially photoshopping, is not intentionally malicious, it rarely receives positive responses from viewers. Photoshopping can appear to show that the source is attempting to deceive viewers into believing false information, which will often form a sense of distrust between the source and consumers'. 

One example of this is an article released in 2015 from DW.com, stating that it has been 25 years [in 2015] since the creation of photoshop, as well as the effects it has had on consumers perceptions of reality. Photoshop puts celebrities on a pedestal and according to the DW, it "creates an unattainable image of beauty".

With photoshop only existing over the last 25 years, it has been allowed to advance as much as new media platforms would allow it. Social Media has rapidly improved even in the last 15 years, with platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, all mainly designated for photo or video sharing.

Spotting Media Manipulation 

Discovering manipulation in the media can sometimes be a tricky task, but a video shared on YouTube from the Washington Post offers some ways to help spot manipulated videos.

The Washington Post's ways to spot video manipulation.

With advancements in photo and video editing not slowing down, the best thing consumers can do is understand that all journalism should be taken with a grain of salt and it is always best to do personal research with a reliable source. 

There are many different types of manipulation to be considered when viewing media, not just photoshopping or video editing. Some examples are search engine optimization, or SEO's, or astroturfing which often is involved in politics in an attempt to sway support one way or another.

In an article from Newseumed, there are pointers available in graphic illustration style to offer more tips on how to always be aware when receiving information. One example states "There are two sides to every story. Mine, and the one I'm not gonna tell you about."

There is a saying that goes "a picture is worth a thousand words", but if the picture in question alters one's perception of reality, what words is it speaking? Journalism in any format is meant to be a reliable source of information to help educate consumers, but with the advancement of new platforms, it only becomes hard to spot the differences between real and fake news.