Journalists Ethics and Social Media Reportage: A Detailed Report

This report delves into the ethical considerations of journalism and social media reportage, focusing on the challenges faced by photojournalists in documenting and visually interpreting people's lives and careers. It explores issues such as transparency, verification, and accuracy, examining how journalists can ethically represent their subjects. The report discusses various career opportunities in photojournalism, including working for newspapers, magazines, or as freelancers, and the importance of maintaining ethical standards to build trust with the audience. It also addresses how photojournalists can navigate ethical dilemmas related to social media, user interactions, and the potential for manipulating viewers' reactions. The report emphasizes the need for journalists to be investigative, intellectual, and introspective in their approach, ensuring they represent their subjects comprehensively and accurately while avoiding manipulation or misrepresentation. References to academic research and publications support the analysis of ethical practices in the field.

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Journalists ethics and social media reportage
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How one can render, visually re-interpret or document people in their predicament of
working to make a living and forge a career
There are ethical issues photo-journalists faces in social media reportage. They include
transparency, verification, and accuracy among others. There are new ethical issues that are not
covered by the ethical codes and current laws hence journalists may lack the tools and codes to
respond to them. Photojournalist complies with a rigid framework of ethical practice as their
work must be honest and impartial to contribute to the news media (Elliott & Ozar, 2010).
How photojournalist can document, visually re-interpret or render people in their predicament of
work to forge a career regardless of their social geography
One can develop the practice of communicating and interpreting events through
photographs. There are many subject matters one can document such as local events and issues
to social unrest. They can be employed by local newspaper or magazines, photo agencies, or
work as a freelance photographer or on the television or the internet. Photo-journalists take
photographs of people in their working environment as they are progressing with their work
activities. It gives a visual picture to tell the story and the audience gets brighter insight into their
work (Mortensen, 2014). The photograph captures the people focusing their attention on work
showing an insight into an effective working ethic.
The working conditions may have obstacles such as threats to physical danger, bad
weather, crowds of people and dangerous war zones (García & Palomo, 2015). Photojournalists
have the opportunity to change people’s views through their photographs. To document people
one has to be investigative, intellectual, inquisitive and introspective. As a result of internet

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connectivity, interactive features, and unlimited space, journalists make ethical decisions on best
media formats. They make considerations on user interactions in different social geography,
public response and explore how they can connect their stories to others o visually re-interpret
them.
A photojournalist has to capture truthful images that portray events, people and places.
As one wants to make a living from the career they have to follow ethical standards. They cannot
use unusual angles, special effects, creative lighting or staged poses to manipulate their viewers'
reactions (Singer, 2010). The skill of photography offers a range of career options as they can
use the images to convey real facts and stories and get paid. They have to build trust in their
audience by being honest in what they convey and ensuring its true story. In benefit, this builds
their reputation and attracts more pay as the demand for their services increases.
One may document important international or national events such as scientific
discoveries, natural disasters or wars (Musa, & Domatob, 2017). They can also take an
opportunity during civil and criminal cases and get paid by law firms, police departments and
insurance companies seeking evidence. They may also be hired to shoot an accident scene. One
can also use the images to portray life within a community. Although they photograph and
document political campaigns they do not take sides as it may raise ethical issues. They may also
make a living by photographing during school activities and church affairs.
When someone is dealing with a vulnerable or a young person they should ensure they
have a clear understanding of the consequences of publishing their information to evade ethical
issues. One can also join photo contests to compete with others and try out their luck and if they
win they will get prizes to make a living. They can as well gain exposure and more confidence to

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work in challenging environments. They can also make shows on television to share tips and
make tutorials on photography (Mäenpää, 2014). One can also sell their prints to clients or photo
galleries and local art. They can also get their photos displayed at outlets, craft fairs or shops.
However, as they are doing so they should ensure their photos meet the moral standards and are
only displayed in areas where they are allowed.
In the field of photojournalism, there are many career opportunities one can engage to
make a living. One can do photoshoots for clients, participate in contests, sell their prints, start
photograph blogs, do photography for newspapers or televisions or on events. In the process of
fostering a career in journalism, one should be accountable to uphold ethical stands. One should
represent their subjects comprehensively and accurately. When re-interpreting they have to
maintain the integrity by not altering images or sounds to mislead viewers. Staged photos should
not manipulate them nor can one sabotage other journalists’ efforts.

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References
Elliott, D., & Ozar, D. (2010). An explanation and a method for the ethics of
journalism. Journalism ethics: A philosophical approach, 9-24.
García, V. G., & Palomo, B. (2015). The crisis of photojournalism: rethinking the profession in a
participatory media ecosystem. Comunicación y Sociedad, 28(4), 33.
Mäenpää, J. (2014). Rethinking photojournalism: The changing work practices and
professionalism of photojournalists in the digital age. Nordicom Review, 35(2), 91-104.
Mortensen, T. (2014). Comparing the ethics of citizen photojournalists and professional
photojournalists: A coorientational study. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 29(1), 19-37.
Musa, B. A., & Domatob, J. K. (2017). Who is a development journalist? Perspectives on media
ethics and professionalism in Post-Colonial Societies. Journal of Mass Media
Ethics, 22(4), 315-331.
Singer, J. B. (2010). Norms and the network: Journalistic ethics in a shared media
space. Journalism ethics: A philosophical approach, 117-129.