The Dangers of Photoshopping in Journalism

Erin McLaughlin

em054617@ohio.edu

 

Photographs in journalism can play an important role in the storytelling process. They can provide readers with a glimpse into what the article or magazine is about or portray the story in a way that words cannot. 

However, Photoshop tools and techniques have become so advanced that they can completely manipulate photos into something that they are not. 

This can be harmful to readers especially in the age of social media. A photoshopped image can be shared and re-posted so many times that people could start to believe that it is true. 

This is damaging to the news cycle because according to the SPJ Code of Ethics, journalists have the responsibility to 'seek truth and report it.' This task becomes almost impossible to do if extremely photoshopped and manipulated images are being spread online via social media. 

Emma González, a young activist from Parkland, Florida was featured in Teen Vogue Magazine ripping a gun target poster in half. The purpose of the photograph was to support March For Our Lives and the #NeverAgain movement that was founded by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to advocate for gun control. 

Picture source: New York Magazine

Not long after the story was posted, a website edited the photo to show her ripping the United States Constitution and posted it to Twitter. People on the opposing side of the argument, used the manipulated photo to further their idea that stricter gun laws would violate their second amendment right. 

According to a CNN article, the article was shared or liked on various social media platforms over one thousand times. 

This is just one example of the negative effects that extreme photoshopping can have on not only the readers but the original publication as well. 

Although photoshopping can completely alter the original message of the photograph, there is a way for the tool to be used in an ethical way. For example, photographers might use Photoshop to brighten an image or blur someone's face that did not want to be in the photo. 

The photoshopping tool is still a relatively new aspect of the news reporting process. As a result of this, it could be hard for journalists to know the ethics behind it. Because of this, it is important for journalists to always be transparent with their audience. They can do this by letting them know if they did use any type of photoshop, and if they did what they used and how.