By Layton Dudley
The cliché saying goes that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ The question in journalism is, in regards to ethics, when should the photo do the talking?
Recently, an international photo surfaced that has caused controversy within the media. The photograph depicts a lifeless Syrian boy, named Aylan, only three years of age, washed up on a shore face down in the sand. In an attempt to flee from the war in Syria, the boy, along with other refugees, drowned before they could make it to safety. The photo is not pleasant to look at, nor is it a story that cannot be told by words alone. But is it unethical to show, and how much does it add to the story?
The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics states that in order to minimize harm, journalists should “be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.” The Code of Ethics also instructs journalists to seek truth and report it. The question then is whether the effect on the family of the boy is worth showing the photo to the public; however, more than the family needs to be taken into account.
In a New York Times article, “Brutal Images of Syrian Boy Drowned Off Turkey Must Be Seen, Activists Say,” writer Robert Mackey reports that “rights activists and reporters […] suggested that the distressing images needed to be seen and could act as a catalyst for the international community to finally halt the war in Syria.” According to the Code of Ethics, minimizing harm is one of the four goals journalists should consider when reporting, and it’s possible that showing the photo could do such for other families like Aylan’s back in Syria.
In an article from The Independent, writer Adam Withnall argues that these photos of the boy can “change Europe’s attitude to refugees.” With these stark photographs depicting such tragedy, consumers of media can get a true grasp on the severity of the situation, one more in-depth than words alone can explain.
Now, the ethical decision comes to a head. Either the photo gets used in order to inform the public about the fighting going on in Syria, and the desperation of the refugees, or the photo does no run in respect of the family of the boy.
As many outlets did, I would choose to run the photo. The head turning photos are the ones that cause a stir, start a conversation, and ultimately bring attention to the news outlet, yes, but more importantly to the issue at hand.
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Layton Dudley is a student in Dr. Jen Hoewe’s JN 499 class at The University of Alabama.