Last Updated: December 29, 2000
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Ask Dr. Ink
Digital manipulation and the Cheerios test
ASNE’s good doctor weighs in on when to spoil a reader’s
breakfast, when to fiddle with photos and how to handle editors who let
great pitches pass them by
Dr. Ink offers advice, serious and humorous, to editors on a full
range of problems and issues, journalistic and managerial. Questions may
be real or hypothetical, and may be rephrased to protect personal or institutional
privacy. Send them to Ask Dr. Ink, ASNE, 11690B Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston,
VA 20191.
Dear Dr. Ink: What do you think of digital manipulation?
Answer: Dr. Ink has some strong opinions. Years ago, when we talked
about “doctoring” a photo, it was the kind of crude method used in propaganda,
pornography or entertainment tabloids.
Now digital techniques make the process easier and less detectable.
This has grave social consequences. Any malefactor can manipulate a photo
or claim it was manipulated.
O.J. swears he never owned a pair of Bruno Magli shoes. The Elian Gonzalez
photo with his father is the work of Cuban Communists, some claim. Reality
seems to be slipping out from under our feet.
It’s more important than ever for news organizations to know the provenance
of the photos they are using; to have a careful protocol for when to alter
a photo; to, whenever possible, conserve the original image of the photographer;
and to prominently label significant alteration.
But Dr. Ink is no Luddite: Go ahead and do some Visine editing:
Take the red out of people’s eyes, so they don’t look like vampires.
Dear Dr. Ink: We have a features editor with an annoying habit.
When I’m trying to pitch him a story idea, he shakes his head “no” before
I finish the first sentence. I don’t think he’s conscious of what
he’s doing, but he does prefer to give assignments than deal with our ideas.
Answer: Dr. Ink is always the idealist, so we’ll assume that your
editor may have a nervous tic and should see a specialist.
If not, then simply call attention to the behavior. Say, “Hey,
Hal, do you realize you shake your head every time I approach you with
an idea? It’s kind of disconcerting.”
If he blows you off, you and your fellow writers may want to organize
a peaceful protest. To rebuff his assignments, avoid eye contact
with him at all times. If he approaches your desk, pick up the phone,
quick.
Dear Dr. Ink: I guess there’s nothing funny about the newspaper business
anymore, at least it looks that way from reading the paper every day.
Does the Good Doctor have a prescription for getting more humor in the
paper?
Answer: Our good friend Dave Barry says the main reason newspapers
are unfunny is because editors insist on putting the punch line in the
lead. Here are 10 other reasons:
House Republicans
Elian Gonzalez
Special Prosecutors
Microsoft
Al Neuharth
Editorial Pages
Copy Editors
ASNE Committees
Strategic Plans
Executive Retreats
Civic journalism
Critics of civic journalism
Maybe it would help for Pew to establish an Uncharitable Trust.
Dear Dr. Ink: Our letter writers are complaining because we require
a name be published with letters to the editor, and yet we print anonymous
comments all the time in the news columns. Is this hypocritical?
Should we drop the name requirement or add a news source requirement? —
signed Anonymous.
Answer: Dr. Ink wonders if the author of this question also wrote
“Primary Colors.”
In any case, we think it is acceptable for the newspaper to publish
letters without a name — in cases where the writer is especially vulnerable,
provided that the editor knows the author’s identity.
A person who is the victim of a sexual crime, for example, may have
some important testimony to offer. Why make that person be named
when we might not use the name in a news story?
Dear Dr. Ink: We recently ran a story on “Hairy-Legged Women and
the Men Who Love Them” and got quite a few letters complaining it was in
poor taste. I say that compared to the stuff on radio and TV, this
was nothing. Where do you draw the line?
Answer: “Hairy-Chested Women …” probably crosses the line for Dr. Ink.
The first and best filter for taste in newspaper is the Cheerios test:
Do I want to read this over my breakfast cereal? The answer will
be different for different readers, but is a good place to start, not just
for that story on navel lint, but also for serious stories about violence
and child abuse. Dr. Ink is ready to spoil a reader’s breakfast, but only
for a good reason.
