Staging the News

By: Katie Carmichael and Patricia Drew

The media has long been criticized for its’ presentation of news in many forms. Some accuse the media of being biased, or for failing to present the news in a useful, thorough context. But there is a fine line between getting the story you need, staging events, and altering news to convey your intended message. The Urban Dictionary defines staging the news as, “re-creation on television news of some event that is believed to have happened or which could have happened.” Many journalists face tremendous pressure from editors and deadlines. Under this pressure, some resort to unethical practices to complete their assignment and make their bosses happy.

            Staging or altering news can happen through any news medium. In photojournalism, there are many techniques that lend themselves to altering photos. Programs have become widely available, such as Photoshop, which makes doctoring photographs much easier than in the past. A prime example would be the Times cover featuring O.J. Simpson’s mug shot. Techniques were used to make the photo appear much darker and give the reader an uneasy, sinister feeling not conveyed in the original picture. There is controversy in whether this is actually unethical.

            In print journalism, there is a temptation to stage news in the form of falsifying quotes, or exaggeration of actual events to make the story more interesting and enticing. Again, many journalists feel the pressure of getting a story in on time, on top of making it an interesting story for their readers. Some journalists will manipulate information to tell the story they want to tell. One such case would be Judith Miller and her reporting of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction when the United States was first becoming involved in the ‘War on Terror’. Although she had information that certain metal canisters found were not used in the making of WMD’s, she ignored that information and ran with the story.

            Another frightening aspect of staging the news is when government staging events and the media plays directly into the sham. The Bush administration received much criticism for its manipulation of the media. One famous occurrence was when FEMA apparently staged a news conference to bolster its image after Hurricane Katrina. When receiving news, it is vital that the viewer or reader keep in mind the source of information. But what about when the source of information is unclear and untraceable, specifically in cases when the government is controlling the message?

            There are many negative effects of staging or altering news. The primary duty of the press is to serve as “watchdogs” for the American people. By presenting fake news, the media is failing at their most important task and disowning the truth, which should be the goal of every journalist. In addition to misleading the American public, journalists face many repercussions for such unethical behavior. One could loose their job, ruin their reputation as a journalist of integrity, or harm their sources. In this age of technology, information can be transmitted in an instant all over the world. The chance of getting caught for staging or altering news has greatly increased. It is a fine line that journalists, as well as receivers of news, must be cautious and aware of.