Award Date

1-1-1997

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication Studies

First Committee Member

Barbara Cloud

Number of Pages

100

Abstract

Photographers have been manipulating photographs since photography's invention, but digital imaging technology presents photographers with unlimited possibilities. Digital imaging technology allows both simple and complex manipulations to be completed easily and quickly, unlike traditional techniques that are both difficult and time consuming. Additionally, detecting digital manipulation is virtually impossible, jeopardizing photography's referent to the original scene captured through the lens of a photographer's camera; A review of the literature demonstrated a need for research in relation to the media consumer because prior research focused on media practitioners and their tolerance or intolerance for digital manipulation practices. This thesis explores the credibility of news photography in the age of digital manipulation technology as perceived by consumers of mass media. A quasi-experiment was performed to determine if exposure to published examples of digital manipulation, or to a videotaped demonstration of digital manipulation techniques, or to both would affect subjects' perceived levels of the credibility of news photography; Results showed little significant difference between treatment groups, but rather, an agreement among all groups that the credibility of news photography is declining and that digital technology does threaten the credibility of news photography.

Keywords

Age; Credibility; Digital; News; Photography

Controlled Subject

Mass media; Journalism

File Format

pdf

File Size

2846.72 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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