What are shaping the ethical bottom line?: Identifying factors influencing young readers' acceptance of digital news photo alteration. Issue 1 (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yao, Qingjiang (Q. J.); Perlmutter, David D.; Liu, Josie (Zhaoxi)
• Is Part Of: Telematics and informatics. Volume 34:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 124
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Digital ethics -- News photo alteration -- Readers' "Qualified Expectation of Reality" -- Perceived alteration prevalence; Telecommunication -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Periodicals; Télécommunications -- Périodiques; Réseaux d'ordinateurs -- Périodiques; 384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tele.2016.04.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-5853

Abstract

Abstract: While most research on digital ethics has focused on professional codes or case studies in manipulation, there has been little formal research on what the readers thinks about what is and what is not visually ethical in a digital age. This study examines what affect young readers' acceptance or rejection of digital alteration of news images. The major finding is that the perceived prevalence of photo alteration, media credibility, and personal Photoshop use and knowledge are the major influencers of "non-professional" standards of acceptance of photo alteration. The study implies the necessity of intervention from scholars, media professionals, and ethical activists to discuss photo alteration and advocate ethical standards for it.