ch 23 lecture and book notes

Commercial Photography

Imagery that is staged or constructed to persuade an audience to buy a product or service. Legally regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which requires advertisements to be truthful and not misleading, though not necessarily in good taste.

Public Relations (PR) Photography

Images created to shape public opinion about an organization, individual, or cause. Often staged but intended to appear authentic. Guided by PRSA ethical codes, emphasizing accuracy, truth, and serving the public interest.

Photojournalism

Visual reporting intended to inform the public accurately and independently. Operates with the greatest ethical responsibility because it is protected by the First Amendment and essential to democracy. Governed by strict standards from the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), including prohibitions on staging and manipulation.

Privacy Law in Photography

Individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in places like homes, hospitals, bathrooms, and private property. Public spaces generally allow photography without permission, but commercial use of someone’s likeness still requires consent unless used for news.

Propaganda

Biased or misleading imagery designed to promote a specific political cause or point of view. Common in nonprofit, governmental, or advocacy messaging.

Ethical Dilemma in Publishing Images

Editors must weigh harm vs. public benefit when deciding whether to publish disturbing images. The goal is audience understanding—not shock value—and financial gain from such images is minimal or nonexistent.

Role of Disturbing Images in Journalism

Graphic or upsetting photos can be essential for helping the public understand the reality of events (e.g., Abu Ghraib). Journalism’s role is to inform, not persuade, enabling citizens in a democracy to make informed decisions.

Audience Trust

News organizations must maintain credibility by ensuring images are accurate, unmanipulated, and ethically obtained, because trust is critical to journalism's societal role.

fedral track comission

oversees ads and operates on the principle that commerical speech can’t be misleading

american society of media photographers

pro org that supports commercial photography, which includes guidelines for its members

public relations society of america

largest pro org in public relations

national press photographers association

leading pro org for photojournalists

chris ondros

photojournalist killed by gov. forces for photographing Libya’s conflict

david gilkey

photojournalist that was killed in Afghanistan for covering the conflict there

marcus yam and victor blue

covered conflicts such as russia/ukraine, and the fall of afghanistan

ethics

set of rules that guide / govern behavior “whats morally good/bad, right/wrong”

each area of viscoms influenced by rules of behavior often described by national orgs

theres no licensing regular engange in any form of viscom, there no means to enforce those ethics.

advertising

intent is for customers to buy

target audience /customers demographic

edward bernays

ww1

promote the best interests of the client

became famous for photographing women smoking

public relations: get media to communicate and the clients message for free, or directly to audiences via social media

jeffersonian idea

democracy

informed electurate

free press