Photojournalism Photojournalism in the U.S. and in the U.S. and

GermanyGermany

A Comparative A Comparative ViewView

By Laura PatonBy Laura Paton

Part 1Part 1

Photojournalism – An historical Photojournalism – An historical perspectiveperspective

Photojournalism defined:Photojournalism defined:

Photojournalism Photojournalism is a particular is a particular form of form of journalism that journalism that creates images creates images in order to tell a in order to tell a news storynews story

Photojournalism is distinguished from fine art photography by 3 specific qualities…

Timeliness-Timeliness- The images have meaning in The images have meaning in the context of a published chronological the context of a published chronological record of events.record of events.

Objectivity-Objectivity- The situation implied by the The situation implied by the images is a fair an accurate representation images is a fair an accurate representation of the events they predict.of the events they predict.

Narrative-Narrative- The images combine with other The images combine with other news elements, to inform and give insight news elements, to inform and give insight to the viewer or reader.to the viewer or reader.

People use media to reduce uncertainty, judge a specific People use media to reduce uncertainty, judge a specific situation, and as a consequence, adjust the behavior to situation, and as a consequence, adjust the behavior to communicate properly with their proximate environment.communicate properly with their proximate environment.

Media have a great power potential by attracting and Media have a great power potential by attracting and directing public attention and influencing behavior.directing public attention and influencing behavior.

““A picture A picture is worth is worth

a a thousand thousand

words”words”

From 1935 to 1942 the US government hired photographers under a special

section of the Farm Security Administration to create a public

awareness of the agricultural problems and rural poverty associated with the

Great Depression and lent support for the New Deal Administration.

Some of the most recognizable Some of the most recognizable images of the FSA program are images of the FSA program are

that of Dorothea Langethat of Dorothea Lange

When America saw When America saw Lange’s images, Lange’s images,

support for support for Roosevelt and the Roosevelt and the

New Deal increased New Deal increased rapidlyrapidly

Around the same time, Robert Capa worked for Dephot, a German picture agency.

His photos of World War II make him the most well known war photographer of the twentieth century.

In 1954, while filling in for another LIFE photographer

on an assignment in Vietnam, he was killed by a landmine. He was the first American correspondent to

die in that conflict.

War photos that changed history…War photos that changed history…

Wars have a way of reducing themselves to Wars have a way of reducing themselves to moments, single memories, tiny episodes.moments, single memories, tiny episodes.

The 10 year Vietnam war

was summed up

in four photographs

33

22

It has been said that these four photographs, tilted the whole balance of public opinion against the war.

What occurred on the battlefield was rendered largely irrelevant by what occurred when these images rushed into the minds of the American public.

44

History repeats itself…History repeats itself…

Like the images of past Like the images of past wars, already wars, already

photographs of the photographs of the Iraq war are stained Iraq war are stained in mind of millions in mind of millions around the worldaround the world

Part 2Part 2Media coverage Media coverage

of the war in Iraqof the war in Iraq

Most American publications have been reluctant to run graphic war Most American publications have been reluctant to run graphic war photos. Almost no photographs of the more than 2000 U.S. troops photos. Almost no photographs of the more than 2000 U.S. troops who have been killed have appeared in U.S. publications.who have been killed have appeared in U.S. publications.

A May 2005 study found that over a six month period, no images of A May 2005 study found that over a six month period, no images of dead American troops appeared in the New York Times, dead American troops appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Time or Newsweek. A single image of a covered body of an Time or Newsweek. A single image of a covered body of an American ran in the Seattle Times.American ran in the Seattle Times.

Many publications think graphic images are just too disturbing. Many publications think graphic images are just too disturbing. Business considerations also play a role. Editors will admit Business considerations also play a role. Editors will admit that graphic images upset readers and scare off advertisers.that graphic images upset readers and scare off advertisers.

Since 1991, American media has Since 1991, American media has been banned from photographing been banned from photographing the arrival of caskets at Dover Air the arrival of caskets at Dover Air Force Base.Force Base.

Images of wounded troops Images of wounded troops arriving in the United States arriving in the United States are almost as hard to find as are almost as hard to find as pictures of caskets from Dover. pictures of caskets from Dover.

That’s because all the That’s because all the transports of wounded transports of wounded soldiers are done in the soldiers are done in the darkness of night and in most darkness of night and in most cases photographers are cases photographers are banned.banned.

American media may American media may not print the images not print the images of arriving caskets, of arriving caskets, however the German however the German press has not press has not hesitated to print hesitated to print these images as these images as political statements.political statements.

Anti-Americanism in GermanyAnti-Americanism in Germany

A recent poll conducted, found A recent poll conducted, found that Europeans by and large, that Europeans by and large, now consider the U.S. a now consider the U.S. a threat to world peacethreat to world peace

..

The Forsa poll The Forsa poll found 57% of found 57% of Germans held Germans held opinion that opinion that “the United “the United States is a States is a nation of nation of

warmongers”.warmongers”.

Only 6% said Only 6% said that they thought that they thought President President George W. Bush George W. Bush was concerned was concerned with “preserving with “preserving peace”.peace”.

Recent photos of American political Recent photos of American political figures in German mediafigures in German media

An extensive study conducted at An extensive study conducted at the Friedrich-Schiller University in the Friedrich-Schiller University in

Germany found…Germany found…

German national newspapers cover the Iraq war German national newspapers cover the Iraq war with a higher thematic variety than American with a higher thematic variety than American quality newspapers.quality newspapers.

Internationally-centered frames are more often Internationally-centered frames are more often utilized by German national newspapers.utilized by German national newspapers.

Articles of U.S. newspapers introduce more Articles of U.S. newspapers introduce more often arguments which tempt to explain key often arguments which tempt to explain key motivations for the war in Iraq.motivations for the war in Iraq.

Polarizing positive/negative presentations of President Polarizing positive/negative presentations of President Bush and Iraq leader Hussein play a more vital role in Bush and Iraq leader Hussein play a more vital role in American articles.American articles.

American reports about the Iraq war employ stereotyped American reports about the Iraq war employ stereotyped terms to a higher degree than German articles.terms to a higher degree than German articles.

The study compared 2 American The study compared 2 American and 2 German newspapers over a and 2 German newspapers over a

one month period-one month period-

Results found that the Washington Post carried Results found that the Washington Post carried 72 U.S. centered articles, 52 Iraq centered 72 U.S. centered articles, 52 Iraq centered articles and 1 German centered article. articles and 1 German centered article.

Compared to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Compared to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung which carried 30 U.S. centered articles, 20 which carried 30 U.S. centered articles, 20 German, and 50 Iraq centered articles.German, and 50 Iraq centered articles.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung made only 4 The Sueddeutsche Zeitung made only 4 written references to “a no peaceful written references to “a no peaceful solution in sight” compared to the 20 solution in sight” compared to the 20 references in the Washington Post.references in the Washington Post.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung made 19 The Sueddeutsche Zeitung made 19 written references to “Freedom and written references to “Freedom and democracy for Iraqi citizens” compared to democracy for Iraqi citizens” compared to 59 references in the New York Times.59 references in the New York Times.

More results…More results…

Photographs of the Iraq war-Photographs of the Iraq war-

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung printed 17 The Sueddeutsche Zeitung printed 17 positive images, 46 neutral images and 33 positive images, 46 neutral images and 33 negative images.negative images.

Compared to the New York Times, which Compared to the New York Times, which printed 33 positive, 57 neutral and 23 printed 33 positive, 57 neutral and 23 negative images.negative images.

Examples of Photographs printed in Examples of Photographs printed in German newspapers and German newspapers and

magazinesmagazines

Part 3Part 3

Something to think about…Something to think about…

General Sherman once said, “ War is Hell”. General Sherman once said, “ War is Hell”. Everyone dutifully agrees, yet the hell is Everyone dutifully agrees, yet the hell is almost never shown.almost never shown.

To face the truth To face the truth of war is painful, of war is painful, but it is better but it is better than hiding one’s than hiding one’s eyeseyes..

We are a Nation at WarWe are a Nation at War

As Americans, we have a responsibility As Americans, we have a responsibility to make ourselves aware of the to make ourselves aware of the

rewards and the consequences of our rewards and the consequences of our nation’s decisions..nation’s decisions..

The images you are about to see, The images you are about to see, tell the stories of these tell the stories of these

consequencesconsequences

The first casualty when war The first casualty when war comes is truth.comes is truth.

-U.S. Senator Hiram Johnson 1917-U.S. Senator Hiram Johnson 1917

In wartime, truth is so precious that In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by she should always be attended by

a body guard of lies.a body guard of lies.

- Sir Winston Churchill- Sir Winston Churchill

The American Soldier you won’t The American Soldier you won’t see on the evening newssee on the evening news

Pictures seldom lie, no matter how Pictures seldom lie, no matter how often they are accused of lying. often they are accused of lying. The camera never apologizes. The camera never apologizes.

That is left for us to do.That is left for us to do.

-Michael Browning-Michael Browning, , photojournalistphotojournalist