OBSCENITY AND GRAPIC IMAGES IN NEWS

By Lawrence Sunday Ogwang

Photographs and television pictures can offend people if they are in bad taste. In fact, journalists often face their biggest problem when deciding whether or not to use a picture which might offend readers or viewers.

You may want to use a particular image because it is powerful and shows what happened more clearly than words. Journalists can usually find alternatives for words which are offensive, but you cannot usually find alternatives for powerful pictures.

You may have to make tough decisions about using a powerful picture which might offend or distress people. If you are ever faced with this dilemma, ask yourself these questions:

1. Is the picture legally safe (for example, not obscene)? If it is safe, ask:
2. Would many readers or viewers find it offensive? If they would, you must ask:
3. Is this the only image I can use to properly illustrate the story? If it is, you must still ask:
4. Is the story important enough to risk offending people by using this image?

If you get to Question Four and can still honestly answer "Yes", perhaps you should take the risk and use it. Remember, if you intend broadcasting something which might offend or distress your listeners or viewer, warn them in advance.

Some newspapers and magazines use photographs which have little or no news value, but which interest some of their readers.

The best example is pictures of naked or semi-naked women. These can be offensive in many societies, not only because they show nudity but also because they present an image of women as being objects for men to get excited over. They may sell newspapers, but they are not real professionals.

Deciding what's obscene, indecent or profane

sort by Obscene content does not have protection by the law.  For content to be ruled obscene, it must meet a three-split test established by the Supreme Court:

·       It must appeal to an average person's indecent interest;

·       Depict or describe sexual conduct in a "deliberately offensive" way;

·       And, taken as a whole, lack serious literary, creative, political or scientific value.

sort by Indecent content portrays sexual or excretory organs or activities in a way that does not meet the three-prong test for obscenity.

sort by Profane content includes "grossly offensive" language that is considered a public nuisance.

When graphics are not allowed

Ø  If the photo is obscene

Ø  Images with private parts becoming public, not allowed

Ø  Women victims

Ø  Children victims

ü  You can use cartoons to illustrate

ü  Cover the essential parts (Face, genitals, boobs), wounds etc