Ethical Issues when Covering Protests

Will Price

wpriceou@gmail.com

 

Protests will be one of the most memorable public activities from this year. When people look back at 2020, the impact these protestors had following the tragic deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the shooting of Jacob Blake, was immeasurable throughout the United States. Given these events, covering these demonstrations in dozens of different cities around the country raised an ethical question for journalists when taking photos or videos at these protests.

NBA Player Trae Young protesting in Norman, Oklahoma. Courtesy USA Today/Chris Landsberger

Photos are a critical part of American history, but some felt it was crucial to blur out the faces of protestors in photos. This was not a legal debate, as they are at a public demonstration, but a question of protecting those who choose to come from possible harassment or other retaliation. NPR public editor Kelly McBride said that it's important to balance the need for truth as journalists as well as minimizing harm. The faces and the emotion they contain in these photos- that's what makes these photos impactful and powerful to the audience in many cases. Being able to contain the heavy feelings associated with these protests and what they represent should be the goal of any photojournalist. It's always important to understand the context of an event being photographed, but in general, journalists should always seek out the emotions in these events in order to tell the story. While it is a fine line, it is important we walk it as journalists in serving the public. 

There are potential solutions to help keep protestors safe. Donna De Cesare, a photojournalist in Latin America for nearly 20 years, said she tried to take photos at an angle to obstruct the faces of the protestors naturally. This way, the photo itself still isn't altered but it protects the identity of the subjects. Retaliation has occurred, like in the case of six protestors connected to the Ferguson, Missouri protests following Michael Brown's death. These cases should be weighed heavily by media covering protests now, especially due to the similar nature of the protests this year. Journalists need to understand the importance of keeping the subjects safe, and understanding how to walk this line is essential for journalists on social media nowadays.

Overall, it is important that journalists are able to identify the ethical issues raised by these protests. Always being able to accurately assess the potential consequences related to our work is an incredibly important aspect of the job. A reporter should be well aware of these questions at all times and consider them every time they cover a protest, or any event of a similar nature.