Introduction: Photojournalism Defined Photojournalism is a particular form of journalism (the collecting, editing, and presenting of news material for

publication or broadcast) that creates images in order to tell a news story. It is now usually understood to refer only to still images, but in some cases the term also refers to video used in broadcast journalism. As branch of Journalism, Photojournalism, today, has been playing a great part in delivering news to the public. People today has been very dependent on visuals other than texts because of the saying to see is to believe. We are to believe something if there are photos to accompany a story. But before the 1930s, editors did not consider the power of photography. They believed that the words were important; photos were just extra. Today most editors will not accept stories without photos or illustrations. We now live in a photo-saturated world. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography by complying with a rigid ethical framework that demands that the work is both honest and impartial whilst telling the story in strictly journalistic terms. Photojournalists create pictures that contribute to the news media. Photojournalism, of course, is a non-fiction creation. We are supposed to believe photojournalists, like journalists, to be dealing with facts. Photojournalists are still covered by a certain code of ethics wherein they are bound to follow. This has led to controversy over the extent of manipulation permissible using software such as Photoshop. If you can make a change, should you? Can you remove those power lines? Can you crop the background? Can you darken a face? There are no rules, but we do have a guideline as photojournalists: Dont lie. Objectivity and accuracy are two of the most important principle that a photojournalists should always consider aside from the fact that they should only be dealing with facts and the truth. Photos on Print Media Print media, namely newspapers and magazines, are very dependent on using photos. In magazines, publications mainly focus on photo stories and visuals. There are at least three ways to source out photos and publish them on newspapers or magazines. Photographers/Photojournalists Wired Networks such as Associated Press, Reuters and Bloomberg. Contributors/Internet (Citizen Journalism)

Photographers/Photojournalists Publications have their own photojournalists or photographers who provide their own photos. Some even get photos from freelancers and contributors. These photographers

are assigned by their editors of chief photographers to cover events, such as press conferences, launchings, accidents and calamities. Photos coming from their own photographers are deemed to be ethical and of standards. Wired Networks Wired networks are organizations such as Reuters, Associated Press and Bloomberg wherein publications pay subscriptions for them to be able to publish photos and write ups written by correspindents of the organization. Wire services prepare hard-news articles, features, and other material to be used by media outlets, with little or no editing needed. Some wire services also send photos, infographics and broadcast reports. The service charges for access to their material. Some also charge for separate items. The form of the wire service is not uniform. Though bought by the publication, credits to the organization should be properly done to ensure that the photos and articles are named after the proper person who contributed them. Corporate models may simply sell their service while cooperatives of news outlets share their articles with other members. Press release wire services charge creators of content to distribute their news. Government-operated, nonprofit, and alternative media networks are other forms of wire services.

Contributors/Internet (Citizen Journalism) The concept of citizen journalism (also known as "public", "participatory", "democratic"), "guerrilla" or "street" journalism is based upon public citizens "playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing, and disseminating news and information." Similarly, Courtney C. Radsch defines citizen journalism "as an alternative and activist form of newsgathering and reporting that functions outside mainstream media institutions, often as a repose to shortcoming in the professional journalistic field, that uses similar journalistic practices but is driven by different objectives and ideals and relies on alternative sources of legitimacy than traditional or mainstream journalism." Jay Rosen proposes a simpler definition: "When the people formerly known as the audience employ the press tools they have in their possession to inform one another." New media technology, such as social networking and media-sharing websites, in addition to the increasing prevalence of cellular telephones, have made citizen journalism more accessible to people worldwide. Due to the availability of technology, citizens often can report breaking news more quickly than traditional media reporters. The emergence of social media also contributed to the escalation of fake and manipulated photos and write ups because of the issue of control and management on publications.

Ethics in Photojournalism Media critics and viewers question the use of gruesome images, dozens of photographers hounding celebrities, picture manipulations that present misleading views, visual messages that perpetuate negative stereotypes of individuals from various multicultural groups, and images that blur the distinction between advertising and journalism. Nothing that hasn't been a part of photography since its invention in 1839. What is new, however, is the spread of computer technology that allows practically anyone to produce and disseminate visual messages in massive numbers for a world-wide audience. Because images evoke almost immediate emotional responses among viewers, pictures have tremendous impact. With well-chosen words, visual messages combine to educate, entertain and persuade. But the flip side to such visual power is that images can also offend, shock, mislead, stereotype and confused. Today, questions as to what is considered as ethical both on writing and visuals has been lurking in the minds of the many especially with the emergence of digital photography. Softwares were specially developed to execute these things. But how do we contain the ethical standards during these times? Like writers and editors, photojournalists are held to a standard of ethics. Each publication has a set of rules, sometimes written, sometimes unwritten, that governs what that publication considers to be a truthful and faithful representation of images to the public. These rules cover a wide range of topics such as how a photographer should act while taking pictures, what he or she can and cant photograph, and whether and how an image can be altered in the darkroom or on the computer. This ethical framework evolved over time, influenced by such things as technological capability and community values; and it is continually developing today. Issues on Print Media: Focusing on Photojournalism When you are in media management, you hold to reigns not only to what information people get, but how they get it, in what order they see or hear it and sometimes how they feel about it. With issues like this to weigh along with countless others, including but not nearly limited to, upper management pressure, ratings pressures, employee pressure, how is a manager to deal when it comes to performance. Managers are expected create and present top-notch broadcasts, newsprint, telecasts, and web posts among many other types of media. It is not surprising that a growing number of what many call violations of ethics in the editing process are cropping up across all mediums of media. One of the technology advancements which contribute to the violation of ethical standards for photojournalists is the emergence of Photoshop. Photoshop which enables a user to alter, manipulate and change elements of a visual may it be a photo or a poster is one of the more popular photo manipulation software used by many today. With its emergence it became easier to produce a lot more interesting and aesthetically acceptable photo which can actually generate interest from viewers and readers of the publication.

One instance is when the Daily News, an American Newspaper published a photo of the Boston Marathon Bombing on their front page a day after the dreadful event. Zach Sutton in his article discussed about the Daily News a tabloid newspaper being published in the US allegedly doctored some photos of the Boston Marathon Bombing last April 2013. Sutton said in his article, Following the terrible events that happened in Boston yesterday leaving at least 3 dead and more than 170 wounded, the Daily News is under the spotlight of criticism for doctoring photos. While they have appeared to have doctored the photo because of its graphic nature, they still maintained many other graphic images on the cover of the publication. Sutton in his article continued, The photo, showing an injured woman with what appears to have shrapnel damage to her leg, was doctored to be able to use for the front page of their publication. While the original photo, by Boston Globe photographer John Tlumacki, is perhaps too graphic for cover publication, The Daily News still maintained plenty of gore and blood on the cover of their paper. The National Press Photographers Association states in its ethics code Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images content and context and Do not manipulate images in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects. In moments of tragedy, journalistic integrity is exceptionally important. So why would a publication the size of the Daily News doctor photos for their cover, especially since the doctored image still shows stark gore and violence?

Left photo was the Daily News manipulated photo, Right photo was the original one.

Locally, we have the same scenario in a different situation. Though not published on print, credibility of photos are being questioned, especially during the times of great depression because of photoshop. The image, allegedly altered through popular editing program Photoshop, showed DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo with Metro Manila Regional Director Reynaldo Tagudando and South Manila District Engineer Mikunug Macud talking, with the damaged Manila Bay seawall in the background.

Aside from issues on using photoshop for photos intended for publication, another issue is still on the question on how publication management would handle things such as hoaxes or fake photo releases. The Daily Mirror is a British national daily tabloid newspaper which was founded in 1903 and is one of the print publications who has a long list of issues concerning hoaxes and fraud in the photos they are publishing. In May 2004, the Daily Mirror published what it claimed were photos of British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners at an unspecified location in Iraq. The decision to publish the photos, subsequently shown to be hoaxes, led to Morgan's sacking as editor on 14 May 2004. The Daily Mirror then stated that it was the subject of a "calculated and malicious hoax". The newspaper issued a statement apologising for the printing of the pictures.

The Daily Mirror, when they proved that the photos were hoaxes published the next day on their front page a public apology and owned up to their mistake.

Consequently, the Philippines is not free from hoaxes, middle of the year 2013, the Philippine Daily Inquirer fell on the trap of hoaxes. It was in April last year when PDI published a fake photo featureing President Noynoy Aquino III as the front page cover of Time Magazine featuring the 100 most influential people in the world.

The same with what the Daily Mirror did, Philippine Daily Inquirer owned up to their mistake and said in a public statement, "We stand corrected. It was an honest mistake," said a short statement issued by the Philippine Daily Inquirer's editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc.