Critical Reading: Photo Journalism and the Tabloid Press, Karin E Becker

Karin Becker talks about the relationship between photography and journalism, the so,etimes uneasy relationship. She believes that the link between the two can be traced to the adoption of photgraphy by three different types of publications. First 'the elite periodical press with its established tradition of illustration'. Secondly the 'tabloid press with a more popular appeal', and finally in 'weekly supplements to the respected organs to the daily press'
People believe that photographs are left untouched and they are unmediated. This in Becker's view is one reason for photographs being treated as news. Photography denies the reader the full story, people will look at a photograph and make a judgement for themselves, derived from what the picture is showing. Journalism addresses the intellectuals and informs the reader, the appeal of photography is seen as a threat to the journalistic institutions Enlightenment heritage. I beleive this arguement is reasonably accurate. However I do not see photography as a threat to journalisms intellectual process. I believe photography is helping people to read newspapers People may only look at the photo's for some stories and may ot get the full picture about what is goin on, but at least they will have a certain level of understanding. In the modern press it is the photogrpahs job to work with the headline to draw the reader in.
Karen E Becker accepts the photographs role of being eye catching to the reader. She has written about how on many magazines and newspapers the frontpage is almost like a poster for the publication. The majority of the front page is taken up by the photo with a small bit of text and a headline. This is more evident in tabloid newspapers and may be a sign of dumbing down, instead of captivating the reader ith words do it with pictures, similar to the way you would get the attention of a child.
Beckers essay dicusses the way photographs are taken, how they are made to appear. They act as evidence to the story she uses the example of a woman holding a childs toy in a story about a mum who's son has been kid knapped. People usually will not question pictures, the old expression 'the camera never lies' springs to mind. The people in photographs usually have a lot emotion on their face, if its a sad story they will look upset, if its a happy one they will be smiling a way. This is to try and get readers to see the emotion envolved in the story, and at to the photographs realism.
Pictures are also taken in a way to suggest they are taken from a family album, people posin gin their own surroudings. Although it is clear that they have taken a lot of tim getting the framing and lighting perfect for the photo. This is so the reader can connect with the people in the photograph, they look like average people.
Converesley pictures of celebrities are never usually of them posing in their own surroundings. In the tabloid press they are usually of them shopping or spending time with friends and family. This is in an attempt to persuade the reader they are seeing the real celebrity.
I believe that Karen Becker presents a fair view of journalism and photography's relationship. The work together to make the newspaper look more asthetically pleasing but at the same time photography can take away the seriousness from the story. Overall I believe photography in publications is good, it helps the reader to connect with the newspaper.