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Posts Tagged ‘photography’

Aid, ethics, photography and informed consent

Posted in communications, development, ICTs, mobile and technology, participation, protection, smart aid, social media, wait... what?, tagged , , , , , , on May 8, 2012| 3 Comments »

There’s a great, ongoing discussion happening around aid and development and the ethics of using photographs and other media and stories about people INGOs and NGOs are working with (a.k.a beneficiaries, clients, participants). The discussions are organized by CORE Group in DC. I also participated in the first meeting of the group in April (see this post: On the ethics of photos in aid and development work).

Today’s meeting focused on consent and informed consent for photographs.
Jim Stipe was the key speaker. He shared Catholic Relief Services‘ experiences with developing a process that allows for informed consent in a variety of situations.
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Future discussions will cover related topics such as what happens with social media sites and consent and copyright? What about fair use of images and stories? I’m quite looking forward to continuing the discussions and learning!

Check out the compilation of tweets here on Storify – be sure to read from bottom to top!

Also see this old post: Child protection, the media and youth media programs.

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On the ethics of photos in aid and development work

Posted in accountability, communications, development, ICTs, mobile and technology, protection, smart aid, wait... what?, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 3, 2012| 6 Comments »

  1. Share
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    Looking forward to group conf call with CORE today ref: Photos, ethics, values and INGO/NGO work.
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 06:55:44
  2. This morning I participated in a massive conference call about photography in aid and development, and the ethics and values that surround photos taken and used by NGOs. The call was organized by CORE Group (@coregroupdc). Now maybe I’m exaggerating here, but the call organizer, Ann Hendrix-Jenkins, read off a list of participants that went on forever. I’m estimating that there were something like 40 or 50 people listening in from as many organizations. This topic has always been important for a strong segment of NGO staff and it seems to be gaining steam again.

    After I started tweeting about it, a couple of people asked if I’d be writing a blog post. So here it is. I’ve ‘Storified’ it since I was tweeting instead of taking notes, and because there was a nice side conversation happening with folks on Twitter too. (See the Storify here – it looks a little bit nicer there than it does here.)
  3. Share
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    “Humanitarian photography is a hot button issue.Touches on dignity, how we do our jobs, & our ideas about ourselves, others & our work.”
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:08:52
  4. The call organizers had earlier conducted a survey about NGO images, policies, consent, and operational processes around photographers and photography and shared it with participants ahead of the call. The organizers also suggested a couple of links to check out beforehand, including an Aid Watch post (“Adorable child in NGO fund-raising photo sues for royalties“) and a link to a photo  that appeared in the New York Times. These two links and other similar “poverty porn images” had sparked the discussions that led to the decision to organize today’s call. [update: here is the original discussion thread on Linked In]
  5. Share
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    Jeez – like 50 orgs on this CORE call re: photography, ethics and values. Discussing: @aidwatch post ht.ly/a3gYA & more
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:06:19
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    I’m reminded that these discussions happen all the time among INGOs, even when they are not documented on Twitter or a blog.
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:10:46
  7. Share
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    Second photo touching off this conversation is NYT image from last year re Somalia famine. ht.ly/a3i0s #povertyporn
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:13:32
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    Also reminded that blogs can and do touch off broader and wider discussions that often we never know are happening….
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:14:45
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    @meowtree I think too many people online forget that about a lot of issues. Not all discussions are necessarily open for outside viewing.
    Astridastridhka
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:16:09
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    @meowtree Shoot, I forgot about the call! Are you going to write a post about it?
    Tom Murphyviewfromthecave
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:28:06
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    @meowtree Would have loved to be there but couldn’t… Will you report?
    Michael KeizerMichael_Keizer
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:36:40
  12. Laura Pohl (@lauraepohl) from Bread for the World gave a short introduction to the topic along with some points to think about.
  13. Share
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    What considerations do NGOs (and journos/freelancers) need to go through before publishing a photo? Appropriate use? Consent? What else?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:16:15
  14. After this introduction, Jim Stipe from Catholic Relief Services gave a quick summary of the survey highlights, and we had a group discussion around some of the key issues detected in the survey and additional ones sourced from the participants on the call. 
  15. “
    Heartening to know most INGOs have photo policies saying images must show dignity, & image usage is restricted/protected to some staff.
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:21:54
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    Hearing: INGOs don’t seem to have policies stating photo must match/relate to/be part of story or have policies re: copyright of photos.
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:23:38
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    Hearing: often pgm staff are taking photos, but many INGOs don’t train staff on policies or good techs for photos or on photo ethics.
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:25:47
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    Hearing: What about consent for photos? We need to discuss this much more. It’s key to a good photo policy.
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:26:57
  19. Share
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    @meowtree Unable to keep up today, busy. But have you asked @irinnews input? I use their photo service. Will catch up soon. Thanks for topic
    Susan Searsjuliethecat
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:28:38
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    My question: what is ‘informed consent’? what are different ways to get it? how to ensure ppl rlly understand use of their image and story?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:37:41
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    @meowtree you can’t ensure that ppl understand use of their image unless they know context in which it will be used & understand its nuances
    Clodagh Miskellymiskellaneous
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:40:12
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    Re: informed consent – how not to intimidate ppl with consent forms? Also – shd we be applying US consent laws to local settings? or not?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:39:02
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    @meowtree @jcdonner thanks brilliant, parallel questions for researchers being encouraged in IDRC SIRCAII programme, spread it
    John Traxlerjohntraxler
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:40:34
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    Also: how does consent differ when children/under 18s are involved? what about difference btwn traditional and social media use of images?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:40:32
  25. Share
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    @meowtree What I learned from ethnography: entirely contextual and subjective. Even when you’ve succeeded, you’ve failed. But you must try
    giantpandinhagiantpandinha
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:41:52
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    @meowtree When in doubt, err on the side of caution.
    giantpandinhagiantpandinha
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:42:32
  27. Share
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    Someone asks: What about before and after pictures in the case of malnutrition? is it better to show the “after” picture to show progress?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:42:41
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    Another Q: what about when working with images of people in conflict settings? where use of their images may endanger them?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:43:25
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    Comment: Takes a lot more ppl, resources and planning than we think to do this right. We seldom put enough emphasis on ethical image/video.
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:44:51
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    @meowtree In the West we focus on “informed consent” re: the individual–but in other cultures, the community consent is more important
    YEA at Plan USAYEAPlanUSA
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:40:28
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    .@meowtree good discussion of photos in #ict4d vs journalism here is.gd/G4oGsC
    Jonathan Donnerjcdonner
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:20:44
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    Comment: Need to work with US media also to help have more ethical use of images.
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:46:26
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    Re. #povertyporn conversation @meowtree is tweeting: all humanitarian/devt agencies should have comms ombudspersons to defend those depicted
    giantpandinhagiantpandinha
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:47:19
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    @meowtree I’ve always found Photovoice UK’s ethical guidelines useful in regard to some the issues at your discussion photovoice.org/images/uplo…
    Clodagh Miskellymiskellaneous
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:47:47
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    [ 1] MT @meowtree Comment: Takes a lot more ppl, resources, planning than we think… We seldom put enough emphasis on ethical image/video
    giantpandinhagiantpandinha
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:48:29
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    Interesting commentary on INGO photo policies & the ethics of humanitarian photography by @meowtree.
    Julienne LaulerJulienne_L
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:48:35
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    @meowtree @giantpandinha I really like the ombudspersons idea but they would need to be local?
    Clodagh Miskellymiskellaneous
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:49:28
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    @miskellaneous @meowtree Anybody with an empathetic impulse would be a good start. But yes, eventually, why not local?
    giantpandinhagiantpandinha
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:50:32
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    @meowtree photos and ethics such a big topic. I find the whole issue of people coming back from mission trips and volunteering with these
    Jessica GormanJessicaArielleG
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:49:52
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    @meowtree photos equally disturbing. Take a snap of a poor kid and then put on facebook – where’s the dignity and ethics in that? Volunteer
    Jessica GormanJessicaArielleG
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:50:36
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    @meowtree eduction is equally important, but so hard!! At the very least, if you wouldnt want a similar image of your mum/child/bro etc to
    Jessica GormanJessicaArielleG
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:51:35
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    @meowtree be shown are the world or usesd in the same way, then think twice. (this concept doesnt go down well when I mention it to people).
    Jessica GormanJessicaArielleG
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:52:16
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    .@meowtree One challenge – a Western audience that is eager to consume #povertyporn. Many INGOs seek to reach out to that audience.
    Julienne LaulerJulienne_L
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:51:08
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    Comment: tension btwn fundraising people, program people. What is the concept of what the org is doing? Charity? solidarity?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:55:08
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    @meowtree @miskellaneous I find the “golden rule” goes a long way. Would I want my child, my niece/nephew depicted this way? Ever?
    giantpandinhagiantpandinha
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:54:02
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    @giantpandinha @meowtree yes it’s my golden rule too though there are somethings it misses like cultural understandings of modesty
    Clodagh Miskellymiskellaneous
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:57:06
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    @miskellaneous @meowtree I remember a moment with my agency’s graphic designers when we cropped a woman’s belly peaking out from her t-shirt
    giantpandinhagiantpandinha
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:58:00
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    @miskellaneous @meowtree Again, the golden rule worked there. (But you are right @miskellaneous, might not work in every situation.)
    giantpandinhagiantpandinha
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 11:59:46
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    Comment: can we look at studies on the use of photos and impact on donors & learn. Also look at ethics vs what works w fundraising?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 12:07:06
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    Comment (mine) and what about participatory media? How often do we promote people’s own photos/videos of themselves/their communities?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 12:07:55
To finalize the call, we heard a summary from Jim of some of the areas that the group could consider forming smaller groups to dig into and work on further, including: 
  • Issues around consent, alternative ways to obtain consent, release forms, and how to get truly informed consent.
  • Ethics of both taking photos and ethics of using photos – these are related yet separate issues.
  • What makes for a good NGO photo? What’s a good vs bad photo? What works and what doesn’t?
  • How do you grow your options for getting more high quality photos? How to train your staff on good photography? How to find and work with good freelance photographers? How to plan out a shoot and put the right amount of time into it? How to ensure photos are taken ethically?
  • Creating a photo policy, what does a good photo policy look like? what should it contain?
  • How to tell better stories? You can document your programs with photos and you can tell visual stories – these are 2 different things….
  • Getting good photo captions. If you don’t have good captions, photos are less useful.
  • Other places to source photos; eg., if you don’t have the photos you need, where can you go to get them?
  • Photo journalism vs NGO photography – similar yet different, different approaches and goals. Let’s discuss this.
  • Vocabulary for talking about photos in order to articulate to staff why one photo better than another. Turning gut sense into language and tools.
  • Looking at studies on the use of photos and their impact on donors, what can we learn from that? How to reconcile the different set of ethics that we may find in terms of ‘what works’ for fundraising and what is ethical?
  • What about participatory media and people portraying themselves and their own images
  • An Ombudsperson within INGOs who can defend the rights of those being photographed
  • The question of how people perceive you when you go from doing program work to becoming a photographer in the same afternoon. 
  • The related question about what happens when your organization makes you do both things? Who owns the photos? Do you get paid if your organization uses them? What if you are using your own equipment? How is your organization using you if that’s not your job in the first place? What are you expected to do and how much of this should you actually be doing?
  • Budgeting. We need to begin inserting budget into the conversation. How much can we pay photographers, or do we invest in training our own staff?
  1. Share
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    Well pointed out by @miskellaneous: our “golden rule” re. depiction of “the Other” sometimes “misses cultural understandings of modesty”.
    giantpandinhagiantpandinha
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 12:08:55
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    However, I still believe some “golden rule” is better than none, and the bottom line should be: err on the side of caution.
    giantpandinhagiantpandinha
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 12:10:15
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    Comment: What about when you’re asked to be both a “program” person and also take comms/PR photos? How does community view you?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 12:08:59
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    Comment: what are the rules when your focus is pgm, but ‘photographer’ is added to your task list before you go out to ‘the field’?
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 12:10:10
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    @meowtree @julienne_l I work with youth and struggle with this a lot. How do you keep integrity and get ppl to pay attention? #povertyporn
    Elizabeth Peacocknot_not_litotes
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 12:04:39
  6. I’m looking forward to continuing the discussions as this is an issue that constantly jumps out at me. It’s fantastic to know that there is such a strong contingent of NGO staff who are keen to address the issues around how we take and how we use photographs of the people that we work with.
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    That’s it for tweets from @coregroupdc conversation on #povertyporn, photos, ethics and values. More later – discussions will continue.
    Linda Raftreemeowtree
    Tue, Apr 03 2012 12:11:55

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