The moment that Louisville Courier-Journal staff photographer James H. Wallace started working on the Deja Vu dance club story, the debate began. “How do we tell this story tastefully and truthfully,” Wallace pondered.
Not knowing at the time whether this story would be featured on the front or inside of the newspaper, the 12-year veteran photojournalist proceeded thoughtfully and with great discretion. “I knew the story was controversial and that I could not shoot anything too revealing,” said Wallace when interviewed. Completely aware of the potentially strong reaction, Wallace told News Photographer Magazine during a recent interview, “I understood the sensibilities of this community.”
As he covered the story, he made sure that he included diverse perspectives and photographed several overall images from different vantage points. He also included several photos of one young woman dancing. During two separate sets, she conducted her aerobic-style performance, first donning a leotard and sweatshirt and then a bikini top and large shirt. Wallace employed several focus techniques and perspectives to avoid any distasteful photographs of the dancer as she performed “can-can kicks and other suggestive movements.”
Six photos were edited, approved, and placed in the Leaf Desk for consideration. At the time he never imagined that a controversy would ensue. He had done his job well, he thought, and had gone the extra mile with all of his ethical decision-making. He had even used a minor blur on one photograph so that the dancer’s face would not be completely recognizable and to create a mood of motion and movement (although he later rejected this approach).
After lots of discussion with other photographers, editors, and Rob King, the presentation editor, all involved felt that the final edit was acceptable. “There was a range of options,” recalled King. The controversy started when others, who had not been involved in the prior meetings, did not consider those alternatives.
They crossed the line by altering the content of visual storytelling. Journalistic credibility, which is crucial to the media’s survival as an institution, was threatened. We cannot afford to jeopardize the trust that our readers have in us. This incident clearly violated the integrity of the photo and the photographer.
The lack of a clear decision-making process is what caused this controversy. Why didn’t they simply consider another photograph? Adding insult to injury, there was no disclosure or conversation with the readers. In the end, the controversy inevitably erupted when WAVE-TV reported the deception. To say that there were not many calls from readers afterwards is to miss the point.
This is yet another example of the careless use of a powerful tool, which, if we are not more cautious and more diligent, will continue to erode our credibility.
In this case, silence is not golden.
