After working as a photographer for Aftenposten during the Lillehammer Olympics in 1994, Stein Bjørge secured a permanent job as a photojournalist and has since worked for the newspaper. For him, being a photographer is about capturing people in their authentic situations to convey something real.
“I always strive to capture a moment when the person’s ‘guard is down,’ so that I can achieve a photo that is as genuine as possible,” says Bjørge.
Authenticity is what he values most when working as a photojournalist. Bjørge is focused on ensuring that Aftenposten’s readers know that if his name is under a photo, they can trust that it is real.
“Aftenposten should be associated with credibility and authenticity. Therefore, the photos we publish must be authentic. I can adjust photos with lighting and technique, but I cannot manipulate them or add or remove elements. Sometimes I’m asked if I can touch up people to make them look better, but I tell them they’ll have to find me a new job because I’d be fired for that. I must remain true to the principles of journalism,” says Bjørge.
Fake images a challenge
This stands in stark contrast to the rise of AI-generated images. Social media is teeming with fake images from major news events such as the Gaza conflict and the U.S. election campaign. For users, it can be challenging to differentiate between content from social media and that published by editor-controlled media outlets.
When the Ministry of Culture and the Norwegian Press Association recently held a third dialogue meeting between Norwegian media and the tech platforms Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and Google, VG editor Gard Steiro sharply criticised Meta’s, in his view, inadequate handling of disinformation and the misuse of media brands. He referred to an ad published on Facebook, formatted as a news article, in which VG appeared as the sender, with a fake image of the Norwegian Crown Prince being led away in handcuffs.
“If VG and NRK’s brands are constantly being misused in these ads, it damages trust in society. It’s an overarching issue. We are talking about the internet being filled with fake information, and people are no longer able to distinguish the truth,” Steiro said during the panel discussion, according to Kampanje.
More convincing
Martin Schori is the deputy editor-in-chief at Aftonbladet. In the newsroom, they are not only noticing an increase in disinformation but also that this type of information is becoming more convincing. This leads users to lose trust in established news outlets and instead turn to less reliable sources for news and information.
“Although technology offers us enormous opportunities to improve journalism, it also poses a significant risk for the misuse of information. Research shows that just the awareness that it’s possible to manipulate information makes people suspicious even of ‘true’ information,” says Schori.
Schori goes on to explain how Aftonbladet is working to maintain and strengthen user trust in their news.
“First, we clearly cite the sources we use in our articles. Second, we are quick to correct any mistakes if something turns out to be misleading after publication,” he says.
Another key measure is reinforcing traditional journalistic methods, such as contacting first hand sources, verification calls, and source understanding/criticism. These must be strengthened in line with the increase in disinformation, Schori believes. He thinks that collaboration across newsrooms will be a crucial key in the battle to win users’ trust in news.
“I definitely see more collaboration between newsrooms, especially when it comes to developing tools and methods to combat disinformation. Technology is evolving rapidly, and it requires a collective effort from media houses to keep up.”
