Ethical Perspectives on Visual Framing

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

As the ethical questions of visual framing are widely disregarded, this panel presents a theoretical reflection of ethical issues in visual framing and its research. Aiming to bring in a normative perspective, we discuss ethical issues related to visual framing 1) on the level of media content and 2) journalistic framing strategies as well as on the 3) level of frame reception, and last but not least, 4) ethical challenges in the research process:
Addressing the level of media content, in the first presentation “Trophy Shots and Their Framing” the ethical dilemma between the act of mere documenting and the need to reflect on moral considerations in the visual framing process is discussed. With reference to the concept of “trauma culture”, a theoretical framework is designed and applied to the analysis of visual media frames, distinguishing between different types of media and different types of contextual and multimodal properties of visual frames.
The second paper also refers to the media frame perspective, but puts a special emphasis on the journalistic production and selection process, and the “Ethics of Routine Visual News Framing.” Arguing that routine conventions and all-day practices of visual coverage play a major role in establishing predominant media frames, and thus necessitate ethical consideration, the analysis carves out established practices of visual news representation and discusses their ethical implications.
With the contribution “Ethical Implications of Visual Framing in Mediated Health Communication from a Reception Perspective” the focus is shifted towards the perception of visual media frames and their effects. Using the example of framed health communication, ethical questions of visually framed health communication are discoursed. By relating empirical findings to theoretical insights of visual framing effects as well as to normative principles of health communication, potential consequences for different audiences are addressed.
The final presentation “Research-Ethical Challenges in Studying Visual Media Frames and their Perception” will provide a meta-perspective; addressing ethical issues in the process of doing visual framing research. Through the critical reflection on different research settings from a theoretical point of view, further we present key issues that warrant consideration in the construction of an “ethical methodology.”
Besides providing an overview of ethical challenges in visual media framing and its analysis, the papers share the premise that the understanding of the social and individual consequences of visual framing will be neither comprehensive nor impartial if ethical issues are not addressed appropriately; they thus draw implications on future theory, research and practice and invite further discussion.

Sub Unit

• Visual Communication Studies

Chair

• Stephanie Geise, U of Erfurt

Individual Presentations

• Trophy Shots and their Framing: An Ethical Dilemma - Marion G. Mueller, Jacobs U - Bremen

• The Ethics of Routine Visual News Framing - Michael S. Griffin, Macalester College

• Ethical Implications of Visual Framing in Mediated Health Communication From a Reception Perspective - Michael Grimm, Hans Bredow Institute for Media Research

• Ethical Challenges in Studying Visual Media Frames and Processes of Visual Framing - Stephanie Geise, U of Erfurt; Mary Angela Bock, U of Texas - Austin; Katharina Lobinger, University of Bremen, Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI)

Respondent

• Patrick Roessler, U of Erfurt