2. Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will…
• Understand the meaning of social justice and which
issues constitute “news”
• Gain perspective on how social justice has evolved in
recent decades
• Know the most effective ways of covering sensitive
social justice topics
• Understand the effects of different types of media on a
story
3. Social Justice
Defined
Social justice generally refers to the idea of
creating an egalitarian society or institution that is
based on the principles of equality and solidarity,
that understands and values human rights, and
that recognizes the dignity of every human being.
Education and Social Justice, J. Zajda, S. Majhanovich
Includes topics such as poverty,
discrimination, racism, injustice, civil rights,
and humanitarian issues, among others.
4. Social Justice in
Images is one of the
Conveying information through images
most effective, emotion-arousing forms of
communication.
- Research has shown that emotional content is the most
likely to become viral, as are “awe-inspiring” stories that
force readers to view the world differently.
- News-related images are more likely to be shared than
humorous ones, according to research by Social Media
Expert Dan Zarrella.
- “Vivid” images are particularly effective because they
present content in a “language” that is understood by all
people, regardless of literacy, culture, etc. All brains have the
same capability of interpreting images.
5. In Perspective
Read this Washington
Post story and view
some photos depicting
the 1999 Kosovo
conflict.
Note the differences in detail between these two
features: the use of imagery through words versus
imagery through photos.
• Photos were successful in capturing emotion through
tears, facial expressions, dead bodies, etc.
• Which medium did you personally prefer?
6. Ethics, debate, etc
benefit of images for this cause
specifically – research? Pie chart?
7. ACTIVITY
You are the editor of the New York Times. You
must select one of these photos to accompany
a front page story about the Somali famine.
How will you make your
Click to view larger
decision? images
8. This was the Times’ actual front
page.
While Executive Editor Bill Keller took some heat for running this
photo, he stood by the decision, calling it a “no-brainer.”
9. Images, continued
Discussion:
• How did you feel after viewing the Times’
slideshow?
• After seeing the photos, do you feel more
compelled to take action to help the Somali
cause?
• Where is the line for journalists between
informing the public and advocating for a social
issue?
• Is it okay for journalists to advocate for global
crises? content: TIME’s “100 Photos that Changed the
Related Are there exceptions?
World”
10. There is an ongoing ethical debate about
publishing graphic images of humans in such
circumstances.
Is it part of covering news, or is it
Here are two opinions on publishing photos of famished
distasteful?
Somalis.
“The fact that people far away can see with visceral immediacy the facts of a crisis
like the one now hitting the Horn of Africa is one of the most optimistic aspects of
the modern world. Consciences are awakened by the camera ... [these pictures]
tell the whole world what will happen across the region unless urgent international
action comes immediately.” – Jonathan Jones, The Guardian
“The photographs fail to show the reason why so many people have reached this
state of destitution. Underneath the high visibility famine lies an age-old and
sustainable way of living that has been disrupted by a modern world system, and
whose ability to adapt to the cycle of drought has been severely undermined.” –
Helen de Jode, The Guardian
14. The “Happy” Side
This Pulitzer-winning image illustrated what photographer Carol Guzy called a “happy”
moment in midst of conflict in Kosovo: a lost baby had been found, and was being
passed over a fence to his parents.
How often do you feel you get the positive side of a humanitarian conflict? In
your opinion, was covering this moment necessary? Helpful to understanding
