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The Golden Mean

A Weblog of Media Ethics by MED581 students at Missouri State University

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May 14, 2008

Digital manipulation

The problem of digital manipulation is a tricky one. Like Kittross said, photographers have always been able to choose angles and lighting to paint a certain picture. The same is true of writers or broadcasters or anyone else in any medium. I like the idea of teaching consumers to be critical of everything they see - not to the point of being too skeptical, but understanding the process of photography and knowing what you can trust.

Of course there's no guideline for "what you can trust." Even before we had digital tools, there were ways to alter photos. I do think there is a place for these tools in the media - even the news media. They just have to be used as truthfully as possible. Even adding in a cutline, for example, how the image was altered to make someone's face clearer or to burn two images to show a panorama. Just as long as consumers are not being deceived, I don't have a problem with it.

The key lies in determining what is being done for the good of consumers in the name of truth. I can't imagine a specific guideline to put in place. The only thing would be to keep in mind basic ethical principles on a case-by-case basis.

May 6, 2008

Diversity and Media

I tend to agree more with Gordon on the issue of diversity. I do think special efforts must be made to at least consider the impact of your work. I understand Kittross's explanation of needing to find a "center" through which to operate in mass media, but I think that center can very easily be skewed when you're not considering as many groups of people as you can. It's human nature to to understand the world through your own perspective and experiences. The media, like many other things, is still controlled mostly by white men. If those controlling the media subconsciously consider their own experience and perspective as having more weight (as humans tend to do), then that center is going to be too close to the white male experience, and not the experience of the entire public.

That being said, without diversifying your working operation, you will miss certain groups or misrepresent groups out of a lack of knowledge. I still think making an effort to represent all groups will lead to a more accurate representation of the entire human experience as you are presenting it. Someone will always be left out - our world is too diverse - but you can at least attempt to make your coverage as all-inclusive as possible.