Viewer Preferences for Publication of Graphic Images of War

In the first year of the war in Ukraine, several photographs were made that gave editors pause when making decisions about their publication. Photographs depicting bodies or severe injury challenged norms. In these situations, editors typically have drawn on criteria of ethics and their understanding of what they think their audience will accept. But there is little evidence that anyone has consulted readers to determine their levels of comfort with the publication of graphic photographs. A Q-method study of potential viewers (N-31) of photographs of the war in Ukraine found that while they generally believe news organizations have a responsibility to inform the public of the reality of war, they differ in what that means in terms of photographs that should be published. The preferences of about half the participants are similar to those of editors, but about a quarter of the participants would publish much more graphic photographs showing bodies and severe injury. The other quarter fell between those extremes, accepting more graphic photographs if they show respect for those depicted in them.