Digital Ethics and News Photo Manipulation in the Media Age

Introduction and Overview

"What Are Shaping the Ethical Bottom Line? Identifying Factors Influencing Young Readers' Acceptance of Digital News Photo Alteration" discusses digital ethics as it relates to photo manipulation in the digital age. More specifically, the authors aim to understand and examine what affects young readers' rejection or acceptance of news images that have been digitally altered. The authors discover key influencers in readers' choices, and they imply a need for intervention at both the professional and scholarly level, as well as participation by ethical activists who can advocate for standards and foster public discussion of photo alteration.

In an era where social media has proliferated and anyone with a camera can build a public presence, there is a growing need for open conversation. The public must be made aware of the various ways photos are manipulated and of the growing trend toward presenting only manipulated images.

Key Findings on Photo Alteration Acceptance

The article begins with a brief background on ethics, covering multiple factors that have dramatically altered the ethical landscape — from the introduction of social media to the widespread use of digital cameras and the internet. The study's central conclusion is clear: "The major finding is that the perceived prevalence of photo alteration, media credibility, and personal Photoshop use and knowledge are the major influencers of 'non-professional' standards of acceptance of photo alteration" (Yao, Perlmutter, and Liu 124).

A few decades ago, non-industry professionals did not have access to high-end camera equipment. Today, with improvements in consumer photo technology — particularly on portable devices like smartphones — it is no surprise that photo manipulation has grown in popularity across various media sources.

Social Media and the Normalization of Altered Images

Apps like Snapchat and Instagram offer filters that can change a person's appearance or even swap faces entirely. This creates an atmosphere of changeability that actively promotes altered images. The authors note in the study that there is an absence of ethical grounding due to the popularity of these changes, which have accelerated dramatically over the last several years. Coupled with retouches and alterations in magazines and professional photoshoots, it is unsurprising that the public has grown accustomed to the altered reality represented in such images.

This normalization raises significant questions for photojournalism and media credibility. When everyday users routinely alter their own photos for social media, the line between acceptable enhancement and misleading manipulation becomes increasingly difficult to draw — particularly for young audiences who have grown up in this environment.

Conclusion: The Need for Ethical Activism

If it is not discussed, then it is not treated as important. People must concern themselves with the growing trend of unethical decisions regarding photo manipulation and recognize the impact such decisions have had on the industry. Only by acknowledging that there is a genuine ethical problem with these practices can the public, media professionals, and scholars begin to work toward more honest and transparent standards in visual journalism.

Works Cited

Hariman, Robert, and John Louis Lucaites. The Public Image: Photography and Civic Spectatorship. University of Chicago Press, 2016. Print.

Yao, Qingjiang (Q. J.), David D. Perlmutter, and Josie (Zhaoxi) Liu. "What Are Shaping the Ethical Bottom Line?: Identifying Factors Influencing Young Readers' Acceptance of Digital News Photo Alteration." Telematics and Informatics 34.1 (2016): 124–132. Web.