Manipulation, Retouching and Staging: The Debate on Veracity of Documentary Images in Digital Era. Some Cases Compared

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of the alteration of images in the digital age, and therefore the question of the authenticity and truthfulness of documentary photographs, through the analysis of some cases that involved affirmed reporters (awarded on the occasion of international contests by major photojournalistic institutions) and their professional integrity; vicissitudes that had important aftermaths and stimulated (especially on websites and blogs) technical, deontological and theoretical debates concerning the legitimacy of manipulative operations and their ethical implications.

Keywords

• deontology
• ethics
• manipulation
• photojournalism