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ERIC Number: ED274968
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1986-Aug
Pages: 22
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Digital Retouching: Is There a Place for It in Newspaper Photography?
Reaves, Shiela
Photography editors from three major newspapers and three former presidents of the National Press Photographers Association were surveyed to establish a framework for discussion of ethical questions concerning digital retouching of photographs and its impact on the credibility of photojournalism. Although photographs have been repaired, spliced or altered by conventional means, digital retouching makes such alterations undetectable, thus creating the credibility dilemma. While the newspapers surveyed generally do not alter news photographs, some approve of changing feature illustrations. Everyone interviewed agreed it is unethical to alter news photos. The question was where enhancement ends and distortion begins. One newspaper surveyed does have an ethics committee that has begun to formulate some policy concerning the use of digital retouching. Another editor expressed concern about the legal ramifications of altered photographs where legal contracts are involved, such as freelance photographs, copyright laws, agency stock photos and model releases--concerns that will likely increase as the cost of digital retouching comes down. The future preponderance of digital photo editing could make readers cynical of photographic images, particularly from newspapers that handle feature photography differently from news photography, regardless of the ethics underlying that policy. (HTH)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A