EDUCATOR GUIDE KEY AND STUDENT PAGES FOR
News Goggles
What’s it like to be a photojournalist?
In this document you’ll find:
Teacher directions:
Dig Deeper
April 3, 2023
NAME:
DATE:
News Goggles
What’s it like to be a photojournalist?
Featured Video: “News Goggles: Kent Porter, The Press Democrat.”
Directions:
of ethics in photojournalism and how photojournalists work to
document stories accurately and fairly.
Resource Connection Tip: Complete Practicing Quality Journalism in Checkology® to learn the standards of quality journalism by playing the role of reporter in a game-like simulation of a breaking news event.
What is Porter’s role at The Press Democrat? | |||
In what ways is Porter’s job as a photojournalist self-contained? |
PART A: Introduction to Kent Porter
* photojournalism: using images (photographs and/or videos) to report the news
Dig Deeper
April 3, 2023
NAME:
DATE:
What is the role of ethics in photojournalism? | |||||||
Pause the video when you see these images on screen. List two differences you can identify in Porter’s photos below. Why are these changes considered acceptable? After you’ve responded, resume the video. |
PART B: Ethics of photojournalism
* manipulated content: misinformation in which something is altered from the original, such as images that have had content added or removed using photo editing tools
* dodge: in photography, a method used to lighten an area
* burn: in photography, a method used to darken an area
Pause the video when you see the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics on screen. Match the following hypothetical scenarios with the number from the list. Then resume the video.
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How does a photojournalist earn trust in a community? | ||
How does Porter ensure he’s documenting a story accurately and fairly in just a few photographs? |
Now that visuals can be generated using artificial intelligence, such as the image below, why is photojournalism still important? | ||
What does Porter wish everyone knew about photojournalism? |
PART C: The importance of photojournalism
Conclusion: Explain what it’s like to be a photojournalist, including the role of ethics in photojournalism and how photojournalists work to document stories accurately and fairly. Use evidence from all parts of this viewing guide to support your answer.
Challenge: Using the NPPA Code of Ethics, take photos of an event. Choose the two photos you think capture the event most fairly and honestly and share them with a friend. Explain why you chose those two.
Alternatively, explore Kent Porter’s photojournalism posts and try to determine the story he’s telling and how he’s telling it.
News Goggles
What’s it like to be a photojournalist?
Featured Video: “News Goggles: Kent Porter, The Press Democrat.”
Directions:
of ethics in photojournalism and how photojournalists work to
document stories accurately and fairly.
Resource Connection Tip: Complete Practicing Quality Journalism in Checkology® to learn the standards of quality journalism by playing the role of reporter in a game-like simulation of a breaking news event.
What is Porter’s role at The Press Democrat? Porter was originally hired to take sports photographs, but his job has morphed and now he’s more of a community journalist. With his camera, he tries to show people what’s going on in Northern California. | |||
In what ways is Porter’s job as a photojournalist self-contained? Porter explained how everything he needs to do his job is in his vehicle. He uses his camera, his phone, his GoPro (a camera made especially to capture action) — anything he needs to do the job. He can post his work online immediately if something is breaking news. Porter is rarely in the newsroom and often transmits from his car. |
PART A: Introduction to Kent Porter
* photojournalism: using images (photographs and/or videos) to report the news
Dig Deeper
April 3, 2023
NAME:
DATE:
What is the role of ethics in photojournalism? Ethics guide what photojournalists do to show what really happened. Photojournalists can’t set scenes up or move people. They can’t manipulate images other than minor adjustments, such as burning and dodging to improve contrasts. They don’t preview stories for people they photograph or write about, and they don’t make up quotes or images. | |||||||
Pause the video when you see these images on screen. List two differences you can identify in Porter’s photos below. Why are these changes considered acceptable?
These changes are ethically acceptable because they maintain the integrity of the photographic images’ content and context. They don’t mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects. They don’t manipulate reality. After you’ve responded, resume the video. |
PART B: Ethics of photojournalism
* manipulated content: misinformation in which something is altered from the original, such as images that have had content added or removed using photo editing tools
* dodge: in photography, a method used to lighten an area
* burn: in photography, a method used to darken an area
Pause the video when you see the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics on screen. Match the following hypothetical scenarios with the number from the list. Then resume the video.
|
How does a photojournalist earn trust in a community? It can take years to build trust as a photojournalist. Porter has built trust and loyalty with people over decades by talking with people and photographing events in the community. People have become familiar with him and trust he is going to do good work. He said that people are not always going to like you, but if you treat them with respect, then you’re not going to have a problem. | ||
How does Porter ensure he’s documenting a story accurately and fairly in just a few photographs? Porter doesn’t try to editorialize (add his opinion to) his pictures. Instead, he simply photographs what’s there. He tries not to put his personality into a photograph, meaning he can put in his style but not his opinion. Whatever he thinks personally cannot show in his photographs. He said if you tell the truth in a photograph, it will shine through. Porter often talks with people while on assignment and they loosen up, which he said leads to better, more truthful pictures. When dealing with sensitive topics, he tries to minimize harm. |
Now that visuals can be generated using artificial intelligence, such as the image below, why is photojournalism still important? People can think those AI images are real. But they are not. Photojournalists don’t make things up. People may not agree with a photo Porter shot, but it’s truthful and honest. | ||
What does Porter wish everyone knew about photojournalism? Photojournalists are not out to embarrass people or make them look bad. They’re trying to report the news in ways that are honest. He’s trying to photograph what’s going on in the community, and if it makes life a little better or exposes something nobody knew before, that’s great. He said he is like everyone else, but if something happens in his community, he’s going to be there to document it and has a right to. |
PART C: The importance of photojournalism
Conclusion: Explain what it’s like to be a photojournalist, including the role of ethics in photojournalism and how photojournalists work to document stories accurately and fairly. Use evidence from all parts of this viewing guide to support your answer.
Answers will vary. Be sure students incorporate key ideas from various points in this viewing guide.
Challenge: Using the NPPA Code of Ethics, take photos of an event. Choose the two photos you think capture the event most fairly and honestly and share them with a friend. Explain why you chose those two.
Alternatively, explore Kent Porter’s photojournalism posts and try to determine the story he’s telling and how he’s telling it.