objectivity in 2010.

2 days into Audio Storytelling,
& we had ourselves a heated, little debate about Kevin Carter & his controversial image of the child with the vulture..
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/kevin_carter/hungry%20child_1.jpg

here's my take on the situation that he was so haunted by, receiving heavy criticism for not doing more to help the child...

Combat and famine photography is not for everyone. That's a simple truth. Not every individual can stomach watching another human being starve to death, especially a child, and sit by helpless to do nothing to aide the child's discomfort. That's simply being a compassionate human being, unable to allow another person to suffer in front of you. But there has to be a professional line. You have to, personally, draw a professional line within yourself and understand the instances where you interfere to help a person and where you stand back and remain an objective observer.
I, personally, strive to have a career in combat photography and look forward to having a career in overseas conflict photography. I have a very well-defined line that I keep morally. I'm a journalist first. I know that the title isn't an easy burden and once you decide to pursue a career in journalism wholeheartedly, a lot of sacrifice has to be made. Even working at a daily paper. There is a code of ethics to live, and die, by. And most people do just that.
You almost completely sacrifice your freedom of speech. You cannot publicly support a politician or have any sort of supportive propaganda on your car or in your front yard. You do everything you can in your private life to appear as neutral and objective as possible. [at least as a print journalist, I know you do.] But I doubt that photojournalists are any different.
Kevin Carter received heavy criticism for his continual change in answers about whether or not he helped the starving child in the picture he won the 1994 Pulitzer for. My interpretation of this situation? I'm a journalist first. Snap the picture. Get the photo. Complete the assignment. then decide on your morals. We're given a job to do. Take the pictures, however painful they may be, and then hope we can do some good with the images that are publishes. Relief workers tolerate your presence because they know you are there with a purpose, without media attention.. no help will come to the area in need.
You're not a member of the W.H.O. or UNICEF. You're a photographer. You have a camera. Not a scalpel and a set of penicillin injections to help infected war orphans. Just a camera. That 5-7 lb of metal hanging around your neck is the only means you have of helping anyone. If you can't stomach death, suffering, and the general dehumanization of other human beings and get the pictures you do need to do anyone there any good..
then what the hell are you doing out in a war zone?