Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Chapter Seven_ Ethics of Photojournalism

My Ethics Map

Each of these features above are what I hold as my ethical values I use day to day. It's important for me to build a relationship between patients and my co-workers through kindness, integrity, honesty, compassion, and responsibility. Most importantly, having respect for my patients creates a safe environment and protects their patient rights. I have compassion to help everyone I can, even if they are being difficult for the third day. What if it was my family member or myself ,how would I want them to be treated? Empathy allows myself to relate to how they feel or think. 

In addition,  Professor Nordell explains in his video Ethics of Photojournalism Part 1, "the dictionary reference to ethics is a system of moral values and the principles of conduct governing an individual or group." In many professions, theres a standard of conduct valuing ethics especially photojournalism. The National Press Photography Association primary goal is to preserve history through truthful images captured by photojournalist. According to the NPPA Code of Ethics, " photographic and video images can reveal great truths, expose wrongdoing and neglect, inspire hope and understanding and connect people around the globe through the language of visual understanding. However, if a photojournalist utilizes photoshop to alter his or her image it can portray a deceitful message. More importantly, it could create mistrust among photojournalist and the public.

A photojournalist named Chris Hondros was in Iraq in 2005 with American troops. The U.S troops opened fire on an oncoming vehicle around 6 p.m assuming there was a suicide bomber or insurgents inside. However, Chris Hondros photographed something completely different. The U.S troops opened fire on a family of eight, a mother and father with their six children. Once they realized they made a huge mistake they rushed to check on the children.  This image makes it extremely difficult to hold back tears. The young girl is experiencing serious trauma covered in her families blood. Meanwhile according to 20 Most Controversial Pictures in the History of Photography, "Chris Hondros transmitted this image immediately, published all around the world the next day."
Photograph by: Chris Hondros

This image was extremely controversial not only within photojournalism but with the United States Army. As a result, the military revised their checkpoint procedures. This child was only five years old. Fortunately, her siblings all survived, one suffering a gun shot wound. The soldiers rushed the children to the nearest hospital to receive treatment. However, there is no erasing this trauma they endured.  Its hard to imagine or understand Chris Hondros perspective of this.  According to the article War Photographer Chris Hondros Witnesses U.S. Shooting of Iraqi Parents in Car with Six Children, during the interview Hondros stated, "I think one of the reasons the photo had this sort of resonance that it does is because it has a sort of empty feeling: you know, the poor girl, all alone in the world now, just standing there in the dark, you know." In addition, Chris Hondros was the Pulitzer Prize nominee for this photograph. Personally, I feel that it be unethical to receive an award for this exploitation. If there was a money prize, I feel that it should go directly to the children although, that would be against the ethical standards of photojournalism. 
Photograph by: Chris Hondros

Photograph by: Ayman Oghanna

The Image above is Samar Hassan who was the five year old child covered in her parents blood. Here in this image she was 12 years old witnessing the image of her self for the first time. According to the article Face That Screamed War’s Pain Looks Back, 6 Hard Years Later, ""my brother was sick, and we were taking him to the hospital and on the way back, this happened,” Samar said. “We just heard bullets." Now she is living with her relatives after the horrific tragedy no child should ever have to experience. 



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