Journalistic Integrity?

I chose to discuss Adnan Hajj's manipulated image portraying the supposed aftermath of an Israeli air strike against the Lebanese capital, because I remember being disgusted by the incident when I saw it on the news several years ago. This image is important because it serves as another reminder that the story which we are fed by the media is not always as accurate and unbiased as we might expect.

Hajj likely utilized some form of photo manipulation software, either Photoshop or a similar program, to distort the message conveyed by his "journalistic" photograph. Hajj altered the color of the sky to give the appearance of a haze of destruction hanging over the city. More noticeably, he substantially darkened the pillars of smoke to give the impression that the damage inflicted by the attack was far more substantial than the reality of the situation.

Hajj manipulated the image to spark further international anti-Israeli sentiment and to build support and sympathy for the Lebanese (Hezbollah) cause. This is dangerous and unacceptable, because Israel is in a precarious situation as it is, constantly surrounded by enemies and always under threat of terrorist action. Thankfully, Reuters stepped up and decided to attempt regaining some semblance of journalistic integrity by dropping the image and firing Hajj, but the damage was already done.