I want to give you guys the perspective from photojournalists so you can understand our side but I also want to talk about how we as photojournalists can do better. So here’s a thread (1/9) https://twitter.com/lib_crusher/status/1279177525210611712

We are not allowed to distort the truth in any way while we are reporting. This includes blurring faces. If this happened, the article not being published and the journalist may even lose their job. HOWEVER, there is a lot we can do to protect the subjects of our reporting (2/9)

There are lots of things photojournalists can do to keep subjects safe. If you are a photographer out at these protests that has not read up on what happened to those pictured during Ferguson, you shouldn’t be out there. (3/9)

Here is an article for those that haven’t read up on it, though please read past that. It is notable to mention one of the Ferguson protestor’s that was killed afterwards was depicted in the Pulitzer Prize winning photo (the thumbnail) that year. (4/9) https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-ferguson-activist-deaths-black-lives-matter-20190317-story.html

We are not out here to put people in harm’s way. We are here to report. That is why I check my photos to make sure facial recognition software can’t pick up faces in the pictures I use. Additionally, I have worked with my editors to ensure that we post pictures that depict (5/9)

what was going on and retain the truth/historical value of the event while keeping the safety of those involved in mind. This is one of my favorite examples of this. It shows crowd size, location, method of protest without showing a full face anywhere. (6/9)

In pictures like these, I have ensured facial recognition cannot identify the people involved. I have canned several photos that would’ve allowed the use of facial recognition to identify individuals. (7/9)

I have also scrapped a number of pictures my editors and I did not feel comfortable publishing because they depicted someone’s face or endangered them otherwise. I have other pictures I have used to depict the event accurately, I don’t need to endanger someone just because (8/9)

I liked a picture I took. I am incredibly grateful to be working with people that value the lives of our subjects while also retaining our journalistic integrity. I hope this helped shed a light on it and hopefully more photojournalists will move towards a system like this. (9/9)