This photograph I took of an alleged child support payment delinquent ran on the front page of The Courier. In the following days, our facebook “fan page” received some unexpected reactions to the photo and article. These reactions were from the subject of the photo’s family, and later the subject himself. I have blurred the names to attempt some anonymity, even though to my knowledge these wall posts remain publicly posted on our Houma Today’s facebook fan page, and one of their names is in the article itself. From a photojournalist’s standpoint, I understand why they’re mad. Nobody likes having their private information made public. Now that law enforcement is involved, it becomes a “public” matter, but need it be public in that one becomes the face of a broad and complex issue? I’m glad that I was able to see their opinion, although I would have preferred a sort of mutual communication, not a stab in the unknown that is online communication. What have I learned from this reaction? I’m not sure. I understand why the article and image itself was newsworthy, but it’s hard for me to legitimize the act of publishing an image of someone’s face with the word “deadbeat” under it, true or not. These forms of public embarrassment, given legitimacy by the media, make me feel uncomfortable.
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This photograph I took of an alleged child support payment delinquent ran on the front page of The Courier. In the following days, our facebook “fan page” received some unexpected reactions to the photo and article. These reactions were from the subject of the photo’s family, and later the subject himself. I have blurred the names to attempt some anonymity, even though to my knowledge these wall posts remain publicly posted on our Houma Today’s facebook fan page, and one of their names is in the article itself.

From a photojournalist’s standpoint, I understand why they’re mad. Nobody likes having their private information made public. Now that law enforcement is involved, it becomes a “public” matter, but need it be public in that one becomes the face of a broad and complex issue?

I’m glad that I was able to see their opinion, although I would have preferred a sort of mutual communication, not a stab in the unknown that is online communication.

What have I learned from this reaction? I’m not sure. I understand why the article and image itself was newsworthy, but it’s hard for me to legitimize the act of publishing an image of someone’s face with the word “deadbeat” under it, true or not. These forms of public embarrassment, given legitimacy by the media, make me feel uncomfortable.

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  1. breathethroughyreyes posted this