The use of stock photos in news reporting: A case in 2022 of the Russo-Ukrainian War
The use of stock photos in news reporting: A case in 2022 of the Russo-Ukrainian War

Summary/Abstract: The ability to transmit accurate information that does not deceive itsreadership, and the use of images that reflects the truth of the fact that they are supposedto be representing, should be an important principle and basal tenet of anytraditional or social media-based news or journalistic organization or platform.It is not uncommon to find images or photos that accompany the text of a newsarticle, and the visual impact of an image, as is often expressed in a cliché, can sometimesadd much more value than merely the text itself. Whereas some fake newsis patently untrue, another gray zone of journalism that is affected by fake news mayencompass bias, spin and deceit. Absent rigorous quality control and editing measures,a news source may inadvertently slip into this gray zone, which encompassesthe use of stock photos to represent, or supplement, the text of news items. Focusingon photos by a pro-Ukrainian social media app-based news media outlet, this ratherunusual case involves a highly topical personality, the President of Ukraine. Thisarticle points to how subtle “truth” can change through the use (or abuse) of stockphotos. Several images covering May-September of 2022, specifically photos or videosof an unshaven President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in military attire that switchto images of a shaven individual in a suit, and back again, are examined from a singleTelegram-based news source. This case notes, using a “soft” example, the risksof “massaging” truth using stock photos. In times of war, especially in the ongoingRusso-Ukrainian War, the accuracy of news, including the non-fictional imagerythat accompanies it, is essential, so as to neither mislead nor bias the readership,and to portray the news as accurately and neutrally as possible.

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