Topic > The ethics behind publishing graphic images of natural disasters in the face of tragedy

An editorial written by New York Times public editor Clark Hoyt and a piece written by doctoral student Manoucheka Celeste both examine the ethics behind publishing graphic images of natural disasters disasters. Each piece uniquely examines different perspectives on the issue, allowing readers to come to their own conclusions about whether or not these photos should be published. It is common for American media to quickly and graphically portray the tragedies of other countries, but not the tragedies of its own people. American media consider it ethical to show explicit photos of people who are victims of natural disasters in other countries, but not of Americans, because they do not want to offend Americans with explicit photos of their own relatives. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe editorial "Face to Face with Tragedy," written by Clark Hoyt, defends the New York Times' right to publish graphic photos. Times photographer Damon Winter took photos of the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake. These photos received both praise and negative reactions; from readers moved by the emotional context to criticism that the photos were “exploitative and sensationalist” (Ramage, Bean, & Johnson, 2015). These photos included images of a woman looking at bodies in the street, a grieving father and a dead man covered in debris. Many readers were offended by these graphic photos, as reader Randy Stebbins of Louisiana wrote that the images were “unnecessary, unethical, rude, and inhumane” (Ramage, et al., 2015). Some readers were angry that the New York Times had neglected to report on the state of the Haitian people or the extent of the damage, but instead felt that the paper glorified the suffering of the people. Some readers were inspired by the photos to donate money, appreciating that the New York Times featured the graphic scenes. This article primarily examines the ethics of publishing graphic photos of people in tragic situations and attempts to justify The New York Times' publication of these graphic images by arguing that they tell the story of a nation in trouble. Clark Hoyt's position as the editor of a very popular magazine adds a lot of credibility to his writing and allows him to set an authoritative tone to his piece. He lends reliability to this editorial by addressing the personal opinions of several readers on the topic. The article overall seems very fair and takes both perspectives into account while still justifying the editorial actions of the New York Times. It shows its readers the point of view of an editor, who gives readers a new frame of reference as he discusses the photo selection process. The intended audience for this editorial includes a wide range of readers, and Hoyt does a good job of making sure everyone understands what he is saying by using short sentences and simple word choices. Rhetorically, Hoyt uses a logos approach in his writing, using logic to make sure his readers understand exactly what he is trying to tell them. The article “Disturbing Media Images of Haiti Earthquake Aftermath Tell Only Part of the Story,” written by University of Washington Doctoral Candidate Manoucheka Celeste and published in the Seattle Times, takes a more emotional perspective on publishing images graphics and raises questions about racism. Celeste argues that these images portray Haiti as a poor country, a “failed state” (Ramage, et al. 2015), as a place plagued by crime, poverty, and wickedness. This article explores,.