MY TAKE ON: North Korea Restores Order to Kim Funeral With Photoshop

Photoshop can enhance the artistry of an image and provide narrative to the photographs. However; in the world of photojournalism, editing photos (depending on the use) comes in a hefty price of credibility. In relation to this article, North Korea digitally removed footprints to restore absolute order of the lining crowds for Kim’s funeral is associated with the concept of their cultures’ rigid-control of information flow and tight surveillance over their citizens.

From my point of view; because of the country’s communism style of ruling, the government feels the need to “eliminate” disorder and portray the citizen’s entire devotion through the manipulation of images and their media. This is very well supported by Ismail stating that:



“…the media’s primary job is to provide an uninterrupted defence of the regime and its leader… the propaganda also continues to use photos and symbols to promote the regime’s image domestically and internationally.”


                                                                                                                   (2011, p. 10)

Image Source:  http://210527837.blogspot.com/

In addition to that, this issue also brings forward the concept of photojournalism ethics where it is now under the threats of technological alteration – tools such as Photoshop is capable of doing. Ethical principles serves as a guideline to ensure that reporting’s are inclusive, accurate and independent (Baradell, 2012), which is not the primary concern of North Korea’s media structure.

Another local example that also focuses on censorship is Malaysia’s Bersih 3.0 rally where Malaysia’s cable tv provider, Astro has admitted that coverage of the event has been cut to suit local rules. Eventhough internationally it deemed that the content showed are somewhat inaccurate and manipulated, however the company feels that they owned the right to edit contents from international partners (BBC) and channels as it sees fit (Chooi, 2012).

Therefore, Photoshop is not a devious tool but rather the misusage of it that brings the issue of credibility up on deck. The fundamental point of photojournalism is that it does/should not lie - a picture speaks a thousand words, as well as it illustrates to readers what paragraphs can’t do (Beehner, 2008).

                                                                                                                                                      (335 Words)

  

REFERENCE LIST

Baradell, S., 2012, “Photojournalism, Technology and Ethics: What’s Right and Wrong Today?”, Black Star Publishing. Viewed 10^th June 2012

[Available Online]:

http://rising.blackstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/photoethics.pdf

 

Beehner, L., 2008, “Photoshop Is Killing Photojournalism”, The Guardian. Viewed 10^th June 2012

[Available Online]:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/16/photography.iran

 

Chooi, C., 2012, “Astro Says BBC’s Bersih Coverage Cut to Suit Local Rules”, The Malaysian Insider. Viewed 10^th June 2012

[Available Online]:

http://my.news.yahoo.com/astro-says-bbc-s-bersih-coverage-cut-to-225941188.html

Ismail, B., 2011, “North Korea: Frontiers of Censorship Investigation Report”, International Secretariat Reporters without Boarders , (p. 1 – p. 14). Viewed 10^th June 2012

[Available Online]:

http://en.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/rsf_north-korea_2011.pdf