Should staged photos win a journalism award?
Dark Heart of Europe is a series of photographs taken by Giovanni Troilo which won the contemporary issues category at World Press photo 2015. However, Troilo has been accused of misrepresenting the town of Charleroi in which the images were taken. The mayor of the industrial Belgian town has described the study as a serious distortion of reality. Troilo has since admitted that some of his images were staged in order to recreate issues or scenes which he says typify Charlerloi, but he argues this does not affect the journalistic integrity of his work
Taking a photo is journalism and reporting news. Staging a photo is creating news – not reporting it.
The World Press Photos will have damaged credibility if they allow the award to remain for what were staged photos.