National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics
A. Application.
1. Every member in NPPA is required to endorse the Code of Ethics.
B. Purpose.
1. The National Press Photographers Association, a professional society dedicated to the advancement of photojournalism, acknowledges concern and respect for the public's natural-law, right to freedom in searching for the truth and the right to be informed truthfully and completely about public events and the world in which we live. NPPA believes that no report can be complete if it is possible to enhance and clarify the meaning of the words. We believe that pictures, whether used to depict news events as they actually happen, illustrate news that has happened, or to help explain anything of public interest, are indispensable means of keeping people accurately informed, that they help all people, young and old, to better understand any subject in the public domain. NPPA recognizes and acknowledges that photojournalists should at all times maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct in serving the public interest.
C. Code of Ethics
1. The practice of photojournalism, both as a science and art, is worthy of the very best thought and effort of those who enter into it as a profession.
2. Photojournalism affords an opportunity to serve the public that is equaled by few other vocations and all members of the profession should strive by example and influence to maintain high standards of ethical conduct free of mercenary considerations of any kind.
3. It is the individual responsibility of every photojournalist all times to strive for pictures that report truthfully, honestly and objectively.
4. As journalists, we believe that credibility is our greatest asset. In documentary photojournalism, it is wrong to alter the content of a photograph in any way (electronically or in the darkroom) that deceives the public. We believe the guidelines for fair and accurate reporting should be the criteria for judging what may be done electronically to a photograph.
5. Business promotion in its many forms is essential but untrue statements of any nature are not worthy of a professional photojournalist and we severely condemn any such practice.
6. It is our duty to encourage and assist all members of our profession, individually and collectively, so that the quality of photojournalism may constantly be raised to higher standards.
7. It is the duty of every photojournalist to work to preserve all freedom-of-the-press rights recognized by law and to work to protect and expand freedom-of-access to all sources of news and visual information.
8. Our standards of business dealings, ambitions and relations shall have in them a note of sympathy for our common humanity and shall always require us to take into consideration our highest duties as members of society. In every situation in our business life, in every responsibility that comes before us, our chief thought shall be to fulfill that responsibility and discharge that duty so that when each of us is finished we shall have endeavored to lift the level of human ideals and achievement higher that we found it.
9. No Code of Ethics can prejudge every situation, thus common sense and good judgement are required in applying ethical principles.
XIX. Penalties
A. Committee on Judiciary
1. The committee on judiciary national chairman shall be appointed by the President. The Board of Directors shall appoint two additional committee members at the annual board meeting.
2. The committee on judiciary shall investigate and hear charges made against members for violations of the code of ethics or other activities or actions detrimental to the best interests of the profession of press photography.
B. Procedure regarding members
1. Complaints by members, made against other members, for violations, must be signed by five active members in good standing and shall be presented to the committee in writing, accompanied by all available facts and evidence.
(a) Upon receipt of such complaint, the committee may reject the complaint by majority vote as inadequately supported by the accompanying evidence, or proceed with complaint, in which case, the chair will send a copy of the complaint and the supporting data to the accused member by registered mail, notifying the member of a reasonable time within which he/she may file a sworn answer accompanied by evidence he/she cares to present.
(b) If requested, the accused member shall have an opportunity for a personal hearing before the committee or a member selected by the committee. At this hearing, oral testimony received by the committee or its representative shall be reduced to writing.
(c) If, in the majority vote of the committee on judiciary, the charges made against the accused are justified and fully supported by the evidence and the accused member's undesirability has been established, the accused member shall be expelled.
(d) A member expelled, under (c) above, shall be granted the privilege of appealing his/her case to the Board of Directors in writing. The decision of the board, by a majority vote, shall be final.
C. Procedure regarding Board of Directors impeachment
1. It shall be the duty of members of the Board of Directors to support and enforce the Bylaws and Standing Rules of the NPPA. A board member who willfully fails in his/her duty or who is guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the association may be impeached.
2. Complaints, accompanied by all available supporting facts and evidence against a board member, must be presented to the committee on judiciary in writing, endorsed by five (5) members in good standing.
3. On receipt of charges and evidence, the chair of the committee on judiciary shall send a copy of the complaint and supporting data to the accused board member by registered mail, notifying him/her of a reasonable time within which he/she may file a sworn answer, accompanied by counter evident he/she may care to present. Failure to file an answer within the prescribed time shall be considered an admission of guilt.
4. Whenever, in the majority vote of the committee on judiciary, the evidence presented justifies the charges made, the committee may recommend to the Board of Directors that the member be removed from office. In making such recommendation it shall be the duty of the committee on judiciary to present to the board a complete record of the charges against and evidence in support of the accused.
5. Any board member may be suspended from office by majority vote of the committee on judiciary.
6. Upon weighing facts presented by the committee on judiciary, the Board of Directors can remove a member from office by two-thirds (2/3) vote.
Digital Manipulation
Code of Ethics
NPPA Statement of Principle
adopted 1991 by the NPPA Board of Directors
As journalists we believe the guiding principle of our profession is accuracy; therefore, we believe it is wrong to alter the content of a photograph in any way that deceives the public.
As photojournalists, we have the responsibility to document society and to preserve its images as a matter of historical record. It is clear that the emerging electronic technologies provide new challenges to the integrity of photographic images ... in light of this, we the National Press Photographers Association, reaffirm the basis of our ethics: Accurate representation is the benchmark of our profession. We believe photojournalistic guidelines for fair and accurate reporting should be the criteria for judging what may be done electronically to a photograph. Altering the editorial content ... is a breach of the ethical standards recognized by the NPPA.
Department of Communication, Seton Hall University