Altering image...hides the truth from people

The altered image

The Original Image taken from the White House

An Egyptian state- run newspaper faced trouble for altering a photograph to show that President Hosni Mubarak was leading the Middle East peace talks. The publication, al-Ahram had published the picture whereby Mr. Mubarak walking on a red carpet ahead of US President Barack Obama along with the Israeli, Palastinian and Jordian leaders. Originally the image is taken at the White House during the formal launch of the talk which shows Mr. Obama leading the way whereas Mr. Mubarak walking behind. 

To give a peace of mind, US Secretary Hillary Clinton and US peace envoy George Mitchell travelled to the Egyptian Red Sea resort, which were hosted by President Mubarak. The opposition 6 April Youth Movement has accused al-Ahram which happens to be Egypt’s biggest newspaper in terms of circulation for being “unprofessional” for publishing the doctored image without an explanation for doing so. After that, Al-Ahram had the image replaced on its website with an image that shows all the assembled leaders seated on chairs in Red Sea resort.

In my opinion, it is unethical for the publication to change the original image to another image as it provides false information to the readers. As what been stated in National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics (cited in Bersak, 2003) “editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images ... in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.”  Visual do play a vital role in explaining a particular meaning about something to readers. It has the power to influence readers either in a positive or negative manner. “Photographic and video images can reveal great truths, expose wrongdoing and neglect, inspire hope and understanding and connect people around the globe through the language of visual understanding. Photographs can also cause great harm if they are callously intrusive or are manipulated” (National Press Photographers Association, 2011) 

By altering the image, the publication is hiding the truth indirectly from the readers which leads them to think that Mr. Mubarak who lead the team during the launch. Nickerson (1968, cited by Schriver 1997, p.407) has stated pictures can arouse the reader’s interest and curiosity and are often well remembered even long after people see them. Thus in Egypt, the people will always has the impression that it was Mr. Mubarak who was leading the team even after some time. 

Being newspaper publication, it is the responsibility of the organization to serve the public the truth, nothing but the truth. The publication should be fair instead of being bias to one party. In conclusion I feel, when a publication alters an image, indirectly it alters the truth which will eventually misleads the readers.

Reference:

• Schriver, K.A. 1997, Chapter 6: The interplay of words and pictures, Dynamics in document design: creating text for readers, Wiley Computer Pub, New York, pp 361-441
• Bersak, D., R., 2003, Ethics in Photojournalism: Past, Present & Future, viewed 10 June 2011, <http://web.mit.edu/drb/Public/PhotoThesis/>
• National Press Photographers Association 2011, viewed 10 June 2011 < http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/ethics.html>
• Stovall, J. 2009, Photojournalism Ethics, viewed 10 June 2011, < http://www.jprof.com/photojn/photojn-ethics.html>

Maheswari Ganga Gangaya

110070877

Ultraman & tsunami......opppssss!

Image source: www.aramaiti.net

Last March, Berita Harian had published a cartoon, which represented the heartbreaking Tsunami, and earthquake that killed thousands of people and destroyed Japan. The cartoon is a picturization of Japanese famous cartoon character who is running away from an oncoming Tsunami disaster. This had caused many parties to be against the publication as they thought it was not unethical to do so. Most people felt that it is poor judgment of the publication and described the cartoon as ‘distasteful’ and ‘insensitive’. UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin tweeted that the publication must apologize for its act of publishing the cartoon that is “impervious towards the Japanese” As a result Berita Harian had apologized publically via on its website and social networking accounts such as Twitter and Facebook after several parties demanded for an apology.

In my opinion, it is highly inappropriate for the publication to do such act. The reason is because the cartoon had made fun of the pain and heartache that the Japanese went through. The publication should have certain limit of decency while publishing any images. “A newspaper cannot escape conviction of insincerity if, while professing high moral purpose, it supplies incentives to base conduct, such as are to be found in details of crime and vice, publication of which is not demonstrably for the general good”. (The University of Tennessee 2007) Hence it is highly unethical for the publication to do such act. Besides that, it might sound comical to Malaysians but the publication fail to realize that it sounds cynical to the Japanese. It sounded as if mocking those people who had lost their life in Tsunami and earthquake.

Schriver (1997, p.410) has stated ‘visuals are not always helpful’. This is because visual can end up giving the wrong interpretation to the readers. As what mentioned by Peeck (1987 cited Schriver 1997, p.410), pictures may even get in the way, especially if they merely decorate the text distracting readers from fully concentrating on the content.  The cartoon image seems to send conflicting images to readers as it gives the false representation.(Schriver 1997)

Publishing news and information of pictures must be examined carefully for accuracy, and their true meaning must not be altered by editing, title or photo comment. (gulfnews 2011). In conclusion I would like to stress again that a newspaper is a publication that meant to serve the truth to the public. Thus, in cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion and publication handled sensitively. (Press Complaints Commission 1991) Thus it is essential for publication to weigh the pros and cons of its actions before executing it.

Reference

• ARAIMAITI.NET 2011, CARTOON TSUNAMI SENDA JEPUN, viewed 8 June 2011 < http://aramaiti.net/matai-ti-photo/cartoon-tsunami-berita-harian-senda-jepun/>
• The University of Tennessee 2007, Code of Ethics, viewed 8 June 2011, <http://web.utk.edu/~spubs/spubcode.html>
• Press Complaints Commission 1999, EDITORS’ CODE OF PRACTICE, viewed 8 June 2011, <http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html>
• gulfnews.com 2011, Code of Ethics, viewed 8 June 2011, <http://gulfnews.com/about-gulf-news/help/code-of-ethics-1.446056>
• Schriver, K.A. 1997, Chapter 6: The interplay of words and pictures, Dynamics in document design: creating text for readers, Wiley Computer Pub, New York, pp 361-441

Maheswari Ganga Gangaya

110070877