Digitally Retouched Photos in Main Stream Media
The use of digitally manipulated photos in the news raises concerns due to the practice’s associated ethical issues. Although the digitally manipulated photos have a beneficial use, reporting the use of digitally retouched photos in mainstream media is critical in helping the public and the relevant authorities to handle the problems that the photos cause (Shah, Shinde, & Kukreja, 2013). Hence, the media should flag the use of digitally retouched photos in mainstream media so as to help the public and the authorities in handling the resultant ethical issues.
Pros
First, the mainstream media should flag the use if digitally retouched photos in fields such as history. The use of these manipulated photos in keeping historical records corrupts the accuracy of the information retrieved from such records (Irwin, 2016). This corruption jeopardizes the integrity of the decisions that depend on such information. Thus, the authenticity of the historical images is paramount and should not get altered at whatever cost.
Still, on the jeopardy that digital retouching of photos causes to their dependent decisions, the manipulation causes wrong scientific research results. Particularly, this is typical in the case of research studies which depend on the manipulated photos for important stages of the research (Clarke & Bromley, 2012). As a result, the scientist concerned should first check for digital alterations before adopting an image for any study.
Second, the digital manipulation of images leads to misinterpretation of information. Often, this problem occurs when using a section of a collection of images or a single image while the other parts of the image or other copies of the collection are left (Irwin, 2016). Consequently, the resultant image will only give a particular desired information. This alteration changes the meaning of the information which the original images conveyed.
Moreover, the misinterpreted of information can cause serious political conflicts. Particularly, the new meaning that the resultant images convey is the cause of the information misinterpretation which causes controversy (Irwin, 2016). This happens when people alter the photos for malicious political purposes. These photos are then shown to the public by the media, hence causing controversy.
Third, the media should flag the use of digitally retouched photos to help reduce malpractices in courts (Parry, 2009). Since the digitally altered photographic evidence is hard to identify, this malpractice is a serious offense which requires a great level of expertise to notice. This need for sophistication makes the court to employ the use of professionals to affirm the authenticity of photographic evidence before the court issues a verdict (Parry, 2009). This measure helps the courts to protect the integrity of their verdicts.
To illustrate the effects of digital manipulation of court’s photographic evidence, the court identified the use digital alterations in a piece of evidence in a popular case that involved Kaps transport and Henry v. The court used the findings of an accident reconstruction and photographic interpretation experts to make a ruling on possible digital manipulation (Parry, 2009). This interpretation changed the verdict of the court from what it had previously decided.
Fourth, the media should also flag the use of digitally altered photos in biological research in order to help the authorities’ to uphold integrity in research work (Cromey, 2001). Integrity in biological research images is important, especially in the experiments where the scientist needs to use the various aspects photos taken from the results such as the image’s color intensity to make interpretations. If the scientist proceeds to use the altered image of the results to present interpretations of the images to the public then the whole experiment is a fraud and should be discredited (Cromey, 2001).
Besides the use of altered images, the researcher can also use cloned images from photos taken from other related experimental results to make interpretation of their experiments. This act constitutes a malpractice that the mainstream media should flag so as to prevent the public and the authorities from misleading information (Cromey, 2001). By exposing this unethical behavior, the mainstream media promotes integrity in research.
Furthermore, the use of digitally altered images promotes subjectivity in news. Subjectivity causes a particular issue to be more or less interesting than the issue really is. This subjectivity is often used to manipulate the public’s perception of important issues (Carlson, 2009). If the mainstream media uses this kind of information, the media would have acted in contrary to the ethical expectations that the public has for them value.
Additionally, the subjectivity can cause incitement of the public which may cause serious incidence. The subjectivity causes incitement to groups of people that can cause fatal incidence. Thus, flagging such photo is important in an attempt to stop the fatal incidences from devastating the society (Carlson, 2009). This makes the media an important asset in this struggle since the media can authenticate images before showing the photos to the public.
Finally, on the pros for flagging the use of digitally retouched images, the media should flag the use of digitally retouched photos to protect the reputation of the media fraternity. This measure is intended to make the public trust the integrity and accuracy of the information from different media groups (Carlson, 2009). This has both economic gains and ethical benefits to the mainstream media groups.
Cons
To begin with, the media should ignore the use of digitally retouched photos in the education sector. Particularly, this includes the cases in which digital manipulation is used to enhance and preserve the sharpness of images that have become unclear over time (Parry, 2009). Raising concerns about the use of digitally altered photos will cause unnecessary suspicion public. This suspicion is unnecessary since the integrity of the information is often maintained, especially when done by experts.
The mainstream media should not flag the use of digitally retouched photos in space studies. This is because the technique is professionally used in space study to prevent digital degradation of images of that were shot in space (Parry, 2009). The professional take care so as not to alter the information that was originally captured in the original photo. This helps the astronauts of various generations to use the particular evidence without being misled due to information change.
Additionally, the same concept is used to retrieve information from past photos. This retrieval is important when the information from the past photos risks being lost since due to fading of the photograph. This warrants the use of experts in the manipulation of the photos to retain the information for a long time (Parry, 2009). The digital manipulation should be done carefully to ensure that the information in the photos is not changed due to the manipulation. Therefore the information can be used in future without the fear of getting misleading information from the final photos.
Besides, the mainstream media should avoid flagging the use of digitally retouched photos when they are legally used in publications to present varied information in form of images. This is because the act unnecessarily affects the public confidence on the journal, especially if the media does not fully describe what qualifies to be a malpractice and what does not (Jernstedt, 2014). For instance, the public can wrongfully doubt the legality of photos from different sources that have been joined together though they have been separated using diving lines into distinct dividing lines (Jernstedt, 2014).
Furthermore, flagging the use of digitally manipulated photos is unnecessary since the photos are important in helping the mainstream media to easily clarify confusing points. The images are digitally altered to integrate different concepts in the same photos (Jernstedt, 2014). This helps the audience to effectively get the intended message due to the efficiency of using one photo and the aesthetic value that the resultant images have.
Apart from the information integrity, the mainstream media should not flag the use of digital manipulation of photos since the practice provides employment opportunities for people. Digital manipulation of images has provided employment opportunities to different individuals such as scientists involved in accident reconstruction and photographic interpretation expert (Irwin, 2016). Hence, this makes improving the practice an important thing so as to prevent cases of unemployment (Parry, 2009).
Next, the media should not flag the use digitally retouched photos when used in advertisements. The use of digital alterations of advertisements is a common practice that improves the advertising sector through improving the beauty and delivering important information in a single photo (Grotton, Carnell, Brenner & Ferrucci, 2014). Consequently, the photos can be used to improve the sales of a particular business.
Also, the media should ignore the use of digitally manipulated photos when they are legally used in court to make verdicts. In this case, the photos are manipulated digitally to help make the evidence clear for a correct verdict to be made (Parry, 2009). The unclear images are taken and enhanced by an expert through a series of procedures before being admitted back in court. The whole process is supervised by the court to ensure integrity is maintained.
To illustrate the use of digital manipulation in court, consider the popular case of the United States government versus Hayden. Hayden was convicted for murder and possession of cocaine. The court made the verdict basing on the work of an expert who fine tuned the images of the suspect’s prints on the victims bed sheet (Parry, 2009). The expert obtained twelve points of comparison with the suspect’s prints hence proving that the suspect is guilty. This was an improvement on the unsuccessful analog methods (Parry, 2009).
Finally, on the cons, the media should not expose the use of digital manipulation when it has been used to avert potential controversy. Although the public has the right to form decisions basing on the correct information, the authorities also have the role of making sure that the public is safe (Carlson, 2009). This makes the media a key determinant of peace, especially when the authorities use digitally altered photos to calm political pressure through manipulation. The digital photos will make the public to misinterpret situations and be calm as the authorities get enough time to address the issue (Carlson, 2009).
Personal Position
I think that the main-stream media should not flag the use of digitally retouched photos. Although the use of the photos causes controversy and confusion when used for wrong purposes, the technology has more significant benefits than disadvantages. The authorities can form rules and guidelines that will help the users to avoid causing ethical issues when using the technology. These measures will ensure order while using the technology and maximum benefits from the technology just as discussed below.
To begin with, the technology has great benefits such as helping in courts to ensure justice is given to everyone despite the challenges that might limit the use of the technology. The court employs the use of experts to help with the technical issues that the technique entails (Parry, 2009). This helps the court to uphold public trust in the whole process since the results are often trusted by the parties involved.
Additionally, the technology is used to prevent chaos in controversial situations. The technology makes it possible to handle the public in critical times since the technology promotes manipulation of the public (Carlson, 2009). Thus, authorities and organizations can address issues that might cause public outrage by using the edited photos to bring calm to the public as they find more helpful solutions.
Although this manipulation ability is aimed at helping people, malicious individuals can use the ability to cause chaos. This chaos is usually caused when malicious groups such as criminal groups use the images to promote hate and incite the public (Carlson, 2009). The results are usually serious that fatalities may result from such incitement. This risk necessitates the regulation of such activities through the formulation of rules.
Luckily, these problems that have been stated above can be handled through the formulation of ethics to govern the digital manipulation of images. These regulations help to avoid ethical issues that may result from manipulating photos through clarifying what are considered as violations (Jernstedt, 2014). For instance, merging two photos from different sources will only be considered to be unethical when the two photos lack dividing lines that mark them as separate figures.
Furthermore, ethical issues that arise due to the usage of digital manipulation in biological research can be handled through the formation of guidelines. These guidelines will help in handling the resultant controversy through ensuring that the original photo is clearly acknowledged (Jernstedt, 2014). The guidelines also ensure that the photo can be easily retrieved by the users when they need more information.
Additionally, the adjustment made to a photograph should be explained clearly so that the final viewer of a particular photo understand the transformation that the picture has undergone. For instance, publishers should explain all the manipulation done to a particular photo in the materials and method section if the photo is used in a particular publication (Jernstedt, 2014). This helps the reader of the publication to identify and understand the purpose of the manipulations.
Next, subjectivity can be used positively despite the ethical issues that it causes. The positive use applies when subjectivity has been used to promote good values in the society. These include situations such as campaigning against vices such as corruption by using images that portray the undesirable sides of corruption (Carlson, 2009). This will promote the eventual development of a healthy society.
Conclusion
From the discussion made in this paper, it is evident that digital manipulation should be promoted despite the negative impacts that it causes. Though the technology has cases of misuse, the benefits that result from the technology’s use outweigh the negative impacts that the technology causes. The negative impacts cause little impact since most of them can be handled through rules and regulations that prevent their occurrence. This makes the negative impacts to be less impactful as compared to the benefits of the technology.
References
Carlson, M. (2009). The reality of a fake image news norms, photojournalistic craft, and Brian Walski’s fabricated photograph. Journalism Practice, 3(2), 125-139. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rjop20
Clarke, J., & Bromley, M. (2012). International news in the digital age: East-West perceptions of a new world order. New York: Routledge.
Cromey, D. W. (2001). Digital Imaging: Ethics. Retrieved from http://swehsc. pharmacy. arizona. edu/exppath/micro/digimage_ethics. php.
Grotton, B., Carnell, K., Brenner,, S., & Ferrucci, A. (2014). Photoshopping in advertisements and its effect on body image. The Manatee. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.edu/handle/10474/344
Irwin, O. S. (2016). Digital Media: Human–Technology Connection. Maryland: Lexington Books.
Jernstedt, J. (2014). Trust and scientific publication: AJB policy for digital images. American journal of botany, 101(12), 2019-2021. Retrieved from http://www.amjbot.org/
Parry, Z. B. (2009). Digital manipulation and photographic evidence: defrauding the courts one thousand words at a time. U. Ill. JL Tech. & Pol’y, 175. Retrieved from http://home.heinonline.org/titles/Law-Journal-Library
Shah, H., Shinde, P., & Kukreja, J. (2013). Retouching Detection and Steganalysis. International Journal of Engineering Innovations and Research, 2(6), 487-490.
