The Relevance of Disturbing Images The media today is a very powerful tool of communication. It gives real exposure to mass audiences about what is right and wrong. With that comes the horrifying pictures of things such as earthquake aftermaths and disturbing videos such as the killing of Gaddafi. This poses the age-old debate of whether news organizations should publish graphic images, or err on the side of caution and withhold them. It is also questionable as to what is measured as disturbing. In this essay, I will explain what I feel is considered disturbing. I will also explain why we as citizens need to see such images, as well as why some do not.
There are many things that people find disturbing. According to an online
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4. Avoid political, civic and business involvements or other employment that compromise or give the appearance of compromising one's own journalistic independence. 5. Strive to be unobtrusive and humble in dealing with subjects. 6. Respect the integrity of the photographic moment. 7. Strive by example and influence to maintain the spirit and high standards expressed in this code. When confronted with situations in which the proper action is not clear, seek the counsel of those who exhibit the highest standards of the profession. Visual journalists should continuously study their craft and the ethics that guide it” (nppa.org). Journalist such as Nora Ephron, for example, vote in favor of showing these grisly images defending that while printing these pictures may raise issues of taste and sensationalism, the truth is that these things are happening. In her piece, “The Boston Photographs,” she states that “Death happens to be one of life’s main events. And it is irresponsible—and more than that, inaccurate—for newspapers to fail to show it, or to show it only when an astonishing set of photos comes in over the Associated Press wire” (613). I agree with her to a certain degree. I feel like people need to see specific things. For example, those that insist on drinking and driving need to see the ghastly images of automobile accidents gone awry and the people that were put to rest due to someone
According to Ephron, the backlash surrounding the calls, letters, and the reactions from Seib were from one main factor: “the death of the woman” (320). She argues that if the woman survived, there would be no protest, as the pictures “would have had a completely different impact” (320). But is that still a good enough reason to censor them or not print them at all? Though it remains sad, the photos are news, and a photojournalist’s job would be to snap the photographs in that controversial time. Ephron writes, “For it may be that the real lesson of the Boston photographs is not the danger that editors will be
Having read, listened and watched a mixed variety of sources - having no choice in this decision whatsoever. Made it abruptly clear that media has gradually evolved over the years to fit with our fast-paced lifestyles. Where all of our time is so-called “precious” making the central focus shift from quality to making something that will stand out. With the goal of crafting something that will stir controversy causing the audience to blabber endlessly about the content non-stop to their friends and family.
One example of citizens getting upset with photojournalism is the case with the Boston photographs. In an essay by Nora Ephron called “The Boston Photographs” Ephron explains how upset people got when they say the photos published nation wide. These “Boston photographs” were pictures of a girl and a child falling to their death; Luckily, the child survived. People were upset with these photos and called them “invading the privacy of death” and “cheap sensationalism” (para. 5). However, some people came to the defense of the photos saying they “showed the dangers of fire escapes and raised questions about slumlords”
Adding to his ethos appeal, Tom Junod uses a strong appeal to logos, by implementing facts and statically data to support his ideas. He points out the fact that not after the plane had struck the tower that they began jumping and jumping in the tower fell. With forensic evidence and the use of USA Today footage it was conclude that two hundred people died that day from jumping. Junod continues with statistical data: “Both are intolerable estimates of human loss, but if the number provided by USA Today is accurate, then between 7 and 8 percent of those who died in New York City on September 11, 2001, died by jumping out of the buildings. … ratio is more like one in six. …
Nate Londa's visual called “Silence the Violence” was created with the intent to effectively present the negative impact of the mass media on the youths’ psychological development. More specifically, Londa's visual makes a powerful statement against children and adolescents being exposed to the portrayal of violent acts in the mass media, e.g., television, movies, music, and video games. At first glance, the central image shows an infant being left alone to his or her own devices and being bombarded with destructive objects. Furthermore, the bareness in the background enhances the central image by not only demonstrating that the child has no one to prevent them from having access of, and exposure to violent imagery, but also the
When a person does become preoccupied with whatever it is they are doing, so in this case photojournalism, take into precautions as to what matters most and sometimes it takes being in the same shoes as a consumer and really think what they would want to see and read about. The images from Ephron’s, “The Boston Photographs” is all about thinking about how others might react to a certain image and before even thinking of publishing it, think about the newspaper boy who has to distribute these papers with graphic images printed on them. If a consumer were to ask the newspaper boy explain the image and why it was printed for a reason, there really would have to be a valid reason as to why it has been
In the mean world syndrome video, several points are discussed about how violence in the media affects viewers. Although violent crimes has decreased over the years, the media has been showing more violent acts than before. Children have been affected by this phenomenon and it has had a disturbing effect on them too. The media should be more proactive with being fair and less damaging in the future.
Today’s media (news) plays an enormous role in the lives of people in directing a specific perception of the world around them. Most often media conduct's a subconscious effect upon its spectators in which the upshots are deliberately or illdeliberatly towards a particular topic.
The unsettling images Beah illustrates throughout the book causes the reader to feel depressed and sickened. After traveling to the town that he heard his parents were in, Beah was stopped just outside the town by someone from his old village. Gasemu, the man from his town, asked Beah and his friends to help him to retrieve bananas. Suddenly the rebels attacked the village they were about to enter. Gasemu was shot multiple times and he started bleeding excessively: “Alhaji lifted Gasemu’s hand; his side was bleeding as well. It was as if his hand had been holding his blood from flowing. It rushed out of him like water breaking banks(...) his blood continued to slip through my fingers. He looked at me, his eyes sadly beginning to sink deeper
Argument on Censorship Photos are tools to bring clarity and truth. Published in 2003, “The Falling Man,” was written by Tom Junod in Esquire magazine. In this article, Junod examines the controversial photo that triggered an investigation, censorship, and offense. When photographer Richard Drew took a picture of a man who seemed to have jumped from the World Trade Center on September 11th, America erupted into assumptions, forcibly causing the photo to disappear from public access. In a time where questions are being raised about serious issues, people should have the right to understand their circumstances without shame or guilt.
In the media there is a great deal of violence and nobody can really deny that. However, the effects media has on children and young adults have been debated for years. In this paper I will be discussing the effects of media violence, the other factors, and the possible solutions to alleviate this global issue.
Gatekeepers such as publishers and the government play a role in photo manipulation. As Newton (Newton J, 2001, pg. 74) suggests that "those who tend the gates of reportage tend power". These people are the ones who decide what the public needs to know', what is appropriate', what is news' and also what the public needs to see'. Gatekeepers as such must answer questions like: "Will publishing a picture of the body of a drowning victim prevent others from drowning at the same spot, or will it only exploit a tragic situation to sell newspapers?" (Newton J, 2001)
Craig Allen talks about how valuable it is for viewers to witness uncensored content because we have the right to know what is really going on. Censorship has played a big role when it comes to keeping the harsh realities but I don’t think that should happen anymore. After reading the article, I agree with Craig on the fact that uncensored pictures should be allowed to view just the way they are, and maybe that way we can understand the extent of destruction war has caused on people. How will we ever know the damage caused if we are prevented to see the real content? It it time the media decides to provide is with uncensored pictures.
In today¡¦s society journalism is under close scrutiny and is losing its credibility. Sensationalism effects both those who receive it in addition to those who report it. This essay will review the history of sensationalism in the media, clearly demonstrate how sensationalism effects ours views on journalism, and confront the ethical dilemmas that journalists must face between reporting objectively and reporting what sells. This will be accomplished by investigating various sources, including articles published on the Internet as well as those published in newspapers and magazines.
The vividness of presentation is one way to raise the level of salience of an issue. A story that is presented with graphic detail can cause the public perception of the issue involved to greatly increase. If a story is sensationalized by the media, the audience will unconsciously attach themselves to that particular topic. A story that shows graphic details and pictures of the events of that story cause people to feel as if they were a part of that event. For example, pictures of the crash of Flight 800 stick in the audience’s mind. This leads the audience to believe that the crash of Flight 800 is an essential story that we must learn more about. The problem with this is that the audience sometimes focuses too heavily on the story to see the issue at hand. This can negatively affect the media’s agenda setting power because the story is too detailed for the audience to see the issue behind the story (Baran 302).