The format does not allow for reflection or understanding. Moreover, much of the news is confined to corner shootings or accidents, as opposed to the basic and weighty issues of the day. With the advent of television and of color photos in newspapers, we are witnessing a situation in which visual stimuli become much more important than the written word. Moreover, whatever is deemed to be most important is reduced to an appealing visual. It should be clear to us that a picture is not just a picture.
Pictures can skew perspective as well as tell a story.
Today we cannot simply say that a picture is worth a thousand words. We need to be reminded that a picture should never be allowed to substitute for in-depth analysis. In today' s world, a picture does little without a thousand accompanying words. The vocation of reporting and of providing information seems to be one of the most threatening to the forces of evil. One must inquire for what reasons these journalists were imprisoned or killed.