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  • Essay / The Ethics Behind Publishing Graphic Images of Natural Disasters in the Face of Tragedy

    An editorial written by New York Times editor Clark Hoyt and an article written by doctoral student Manoucheka Celeste both examine the ethics behind publishing graphic images of natural disasters. disasters. Each article uniquely examines different perspectives on the issue, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions about whether or not it is okay to publish these photos. It is common for American media to explicitly depict the tragedies of other countries, but not the tragedies of their own people. The American media finds it ethical to show graphic 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 graphic photos of their own parents. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay “Face to Face with Tragedy” editorial, 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 Haiti 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 dead bodies in the street, a grieving father, and a single dead man covered in debris. Many readers were offended by these graphic photos, as reader Randy Stebbins from Louisiana wrote that the images were "unnecessary, unethical, mean, and inhumane" (Ramage, et al., 2015). Some readers were upset that the New York Times neglected to report on the condition of the Haitian people or the extent of the damage, but instead felt that the paper glorified the people's suffering. Some readers were inspired by the photos to donate money, appreciating that the New York Times showed 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 claiming that they tell the story of a nation in trouble. Clark Hoyt's position as editor of a very popular magazine adds a lot of credibility to his writing and allows him to adopt an authoritative tone in his article. It strengthens the reliability of this editorial by addressing the personal opinions of several readers on the subject. The article as a whole seems very fair and takes into account both points of view, while justifying the New York Time's publishing actions. It shows readers an editor's perspective, giving them a new frame of reference when discussing the photo selection process. The target audience for this editorial encompasses 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 ensure that his readers understand exactly what he is trying to tell them. The article “Disturbing media images of the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake only tell part of the story,” written by doctoral student Manoucheka Celeste, candidate in the Department of Communication at the University of Washington and published in the Seattle Times, takes a more emotional perspective by publishing graphic images and raises questions about,.