Several weeks ago I launched an informal survey on this blog concerning public perceptions and attitdues toward photo manipulation. Relying on email invations and posting notices to other like-minded blogs, some early results confirm a few of the assumptions flying around the Internet these days.
Problems with the survey
First and foremost, this suvey is not a representative sample of a specific group and can make no claims at being conclusive.
The hope here is that this instrument may be used as a tool for directing future conversations about the role of the media in constructing social realities through the creation of news products.
The increasing frequency of digital photographic manipulation in the production of news images demands serious examination beyond the flagellation of the media or the unabashed right-wing vitriol found in the blogosphere. Therefore, no claims of accuracy or predictability can be made here.
Nevertheless, when I review some of the responses collected to date, there is an interesting pattern developing that would indicate the need for further study and analysis.
Without knowing the demographic makeup of the respondents, many of whom are professionals and educators, there is no way of really drawing any conclusions here.
At the same time, there a few interesting issues to consider given the fact that many respondents believe that news pictures can direct foreign policy decisisions, have heard about or seen examples of photo manipulation with the past five years, and think news organizations need to better monitor the integrity of the images they distribute from the conflict in Lebanon.
Overwhelmingly, respondents do think the general public cares if a photographer alters an image and that digital manipulation is an increasing concern for photographers. Furthermore, a majority of respondents think I the mainstream media is capable of self-regulating itself in terms of manipulating images and that the government should be kept away from attempting to regulate the media.
Finally, another interesting point that comes out of this survey is that many people think that photo-ops are a form of photo manipulation. This should help us look at these issues in new ways rather than limiting discussions only to post-production processes.
The early results (n=338) can be seen online. However, be careful not to draw any concrete conclusions here. Instead, use the information as a way of thinking and talking more clearly about how photojournalism should respond to this crisis.