By Eric Conrad
Morning Sentinel
Published 12/17/2007
Excerpt:
I sent the critique to some experts in the journalism industry to
see what they thought of it. Bob Steele and Kelly McBride work at the
Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla. Poynter is
a top training ground for journalists on all kinds of topics. Steele is
Poynter's ethics expert; McBride is the photo expert.
Steele
agreed that sensitivity is required and that photographers and editors
should look at an array of photos before settling on one (or several)
images. He said newspapers should treat high school students with less
intensity than how we portray collegiate and professional athletes.
But these photos shouldn't be barred just because a newspaper is dealing with high school athletes, he said.
"I can think of a number of possibilities where I could justify shooting and publishing 'moment of defeat photos'," Steele said.
For
example, a photo of a coach hugging or consoling an upset team member
shows camaraderie and strength as well as it shows vulnerability, he
said.
McBride spoke to something else entirely.
"There's a
trend in sports photojournalism to show girls being emotional
(celebrating or crying) and boys being athletic," she said. "It's
understandable. Girls maybe are more emotional. But it also reinforces
some stereotypes."
Both experts said photographic context may be
the key. If a story about a local team losing its championship game is
accompanied by two or three photos — an action shot, a photo of fans
in the stands and one of an athlete upset after the loss — readers
would get the best idea about what happened at the big game.
What do you think?
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