PHILOSOPHY

Ethical Values in Photojournalism: Case of Brian Walski's Manipulated photograph

Ethical Values in Photojournalism: Case of Brian Walski's Manipulated photograph

Introduction

Spearhead photographic practices the truth, photojournalism has always been the subject of legitimating discourse ethics. What this fragility ethics of photojournalism held? What is the definition of photojournalism ethics built? By examining the genesis and development of codes of conduct, this article aims to analyze some of the most critical construction ethics of photojournalism. The two codes of ethics have function to define and explain the rules and responsibilities of members of an order or obligations. Such charters or encyclicals, they enact the obligations and duties of each field. Codes of ethics are normative in that they formalize the "conditions for maintaining the integrity of a practical one. They are prescriptive and provide, in the form of strict rules, the nature of actions eligible professional.

Ethics, as its name suggests, is a theory of duty whose practical application is provided by the code. The precise wording of the norms and principles governing the exercise of professions is seen as a necessary constraint for the common good. Is commonly recognized that the regulation of practices is a good thing, because it gives legitimacy to the professional competence of one hand and assures the user that sanctions will be applied in case of drift the other. Thus, in the field of journalism in particular, the Code of Ethics reassures the reader as to the integrity and reliability of the information at the same time he describes the value of journalistic work (Merrill, 1997, pp. 105-108). The moral bond uniting the newspaper reader is strengthened, it is very probable. There is no doubt, however, that this insurance provides legal journalism symbolic and economic benefits critical to the viability of the field. As argued by Gilbert Vincent, "the codification proposes a definition of the field of legitimate intervention, specific to legitimize the practitioner back.

In this paper, photojournalism and ethics involved in it are briefly discussed. Further different ethical philosophies are applied on the case of Brian Walski in which he combined two different photographs to increase the impact. These applied theories are Utilitarianism, deontology and Aristotle's theory of ethics.

Discussion

Ethics and Photojournalism

Ethics are the principles that reflect the values of the society which ultimately guide the members to enable them to treat each other reasonably. It is quite understood that reality often differs from the ideals but organizations, civilizations and informal groups do have understanding of ethical conduct. Although a group may have a broad acceptance of ethics in general terms but their interpretation and application sometimes give birth to the issues and controversies. Ethics may become controversial especially with the change in time, technology advancement and diversified cultures.

Thus, in the field of journalism in particular, the Code of Ethics reassures the reader as to the integrity and reliability of the information at the same time he describes the value of journalistic work. The moral bond uniting the newspaper reader is strengthened, it is ...