Accepting Manipulation or Manipulating What's Acceptable?

Quinn, A.

Computing has tremendous impact on photojournalism as traditional 'wet' darkrooms have all but disappeared, and remarkably dynamic digital imaging software has become commonplace in the newsroom. Technical advancement has helped photojournalism be more effective in many ways, but has also created ethical challenges in making deception expeditious and less transparent. This paper explores ethics as it relates to the current practises of computer-based photo manipulation and the use of images whose exposures are measured by intra-camera computers. Ultimately, a solution is offered that exploits one of computers' best attributes - consistency in measuring visual data - but decries conduct that requires subjective interpretation that results in inaccurate and inconsistent imaging and eventually a loss of press credibility. Although to many photographers and newsroom leaders, this approach will be radical because it can snub aesthetics - even very slight manipulations are often forsaken - it is more consistent with currently accepted journalistic values.

Cite as: Quinn, A. (2004). Accepting Manipulation or Manipulating What's Acceptable?. In Proc. Selected Papers from the Computers and Philosophy Conference (CAP2003), Canberra, Australia. CRPIT, 37. Weckert, J. and Al-Saggaf, Y., Eds. ACS. 59-64.

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