Bad ethics or mistakes ?

Last few days media and online communities had two similar and at the same time different events to talk and be angry about. One is related to citizen journalists and other to professional photojournalist. Many could not wait to talk about how citizen journalism is unreliable. Many also could not wait to criticize professional journalism.

Some call it bad ethics or lack of ethics, some call it mistake and some are just angry and insulted.

The one related to citizen journalists was met with hostility towards citizen journalism in general and was used to prove lack of ethics. As if there were not enough all the trouble and pain which Hurricane Sandy brought to the people, but someone had to joke about it by posting fake photos. Social media and citizen journalism, two important media tools in crisis instead of fresh information brought confusion.

Bad way to promote yourself and your work. Citizen journalists should know better and avoid posting fake photos, videos or false news.

Other scandal is related to professional photojournalist who took a photo of a horrific accident. One say he was doing his job, he was acting professional, others blame his editor for posting the photo.

Some say photojournalist should try to save a poor man. But we all react differently in dangerous situations. We aren’t all action superheroes, some freeze, some run. The question is how would anyone behave in such a situation.

People like to judge. And the only ones who are hurt the most with this picture, is the family of the victim.

Basic thing with these two incidents is that no one is infallible. Both citizen and professional journalists make mistakes and bad choices. It’s up to people who do the job of journalist and those who are citizen journalists to know that good news and reporting find their audience only if they are valid.

Media needs and requires truth and facts, nothing less.

Tags: Citizen journalist, Ethics, media, photojournalist, professional journalism