Child Labor and Photojournalism

• Published date: 14 October 2011
• Date: 14 October 2011
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S0275-7982(2011)0000006010
• Pages: 139-160
• Author: Edoardo Gianotti

CHILD LABOR AND

PHOTOJOURNALISM

Edoardo Gianotti

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to provide a ref‌lective and evaluative review of

photographic practice by the author on the topic of human rights

violation/child labor. Visual methods and collaboration with children’s

rights researchers and advocates produced work from four regions

including Africa, South Asia, South America, and Northeastern Europe.

The human rights framework of the ILO establishes child rights standards

and this analysis discusses f‌indings from the f‌ield, human rights

implications, and raises the broad issue of social and professional

responsibilities.

INTRODUCTION

A delicate balance should be produced between careful visual documenta-

tion and sensationalism regarding human rights and children’s rights

violations. Child labor in poverty-stricken countries can in many ways be

compared with situations in Europe and the United States at the beginning

of the 20th century and all the way into World War II. Even though only a

short time has elapsed since then, we often feel we have evolved far beyond

Human Rights and Media

Studies in Communications, Volume 6, 139–160

Copyright r2011 by Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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ISSN: 0275-7982/doi:10.1108/S0275-7982(2011)0000006010

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those ‘‘barbaric’’ practices, which we tend to allocate to a distant past.

However, that distant past is in fact the present for millions of children

surviving today under different skies. The problem worldwide is serious and

continues to require urgent national and international intervention

(Gianotti, 2002, 2004).

Media in general and photo reporting in particular have a prominent role to

play in reaching and making the public aware of social problems, as well as in

making possible the intervention of the international community through

organizations and agencies. But a gnawing question awaits photojournalists

eager to achieve this purpose: Should they proceed steadfastly to their task,

without pausing for ref‌lection and self-appraisal, and thus add their own

violent reporting to the violence that the children must already endure daily.

Should they instead focus on expressing respect for their subjects and

emphasizing their human dignity above other debasing images?

News reporting often is affected by an over-realistic sensationalism. On the

one end, privacy policies and state security hinder a complete circulation of

news embarrassingto power-holders. On the otherend, in the name of freedom

of the press, photojournalism purposefullydepicts reality as starkly as possible,

overstating the darkest side of poverty, wars, and burning social issues. With

the aim to further shock a public whose senses are already accustomed to the

worst images of a global society, the media focus potentially on the worst,

disregarding in some cases other ‘‘collateral effects,’’ possibly positive,

emergingfrom the dire straits wherea part of humanity lives. The consequences

of this often unquestioned conditioning of public awareness are countless.

Freedom of the pressitself is one victim of this stateof affairs and continues to

be affected bya sort of dictatorship of the ‘‘worst,’’that makes the poor poorer

than they really are or adds violence to the violence that people already

experience. Professional deontologyfades away in the name of sensationalism.

Human suffering can become a matter of media scoops.

PROFESSIONAL DEONTOLOGY

Deontology is a social doctrine of duties developed earlier by Bentham, that

we summarizes as follows: ‘‘To ensure the greatest happiness to the largest

possible number of people.’’ Since this doctrine was devised, a system of

social-ethical norms rules the practice of professional associations. The

goals of bringing no harm, treating persons with dignity and respect, and

providing benef‌icence are articulated in professional codes of ethics

(Papademas, 2009).

EDOARDO GIANOTTI140