The controversy raises a lot of questions for people about the nature of photojournalism, a photographer’s obligations to people, especially those who have been killed, and what sort of images should even be captured, published, or awarded.

The ongoing concerns with some of the specific journalists in Gaza and their alleged ties to Hamas are relevant to this situation, but some of the other questions concern journalism at large.

When is the photographer themselves part of the story? What is too graphic to photograph? Does publishing a photo imply a political position?

And, perhaps most importantly, how should news organizations and the journalists they employ grapple with the fact that what is news to some feels very different to those who are personally affected by the depicted events?

War is certainly not new, and photographs from war aren’t new either. However, people’s beliefs about the value of these images may be shifting.

The longest-running photojournalism competition, Pictures of the Year, recently announced the winners of its 81st contest. While most have been celebrated, the top prize in the “Team Picture Story of the Year” category has been highly controversial, kick-starting a powerful, emotional debate about the nature of photojournalism itself.
Allegations Against Photojournalists in Israel and Gaza
Mahmud is one of the journalists who have come under scrutiny for their potential involvement or knowledge of Hamas’ October 7th attack, when many Israeli civilians were abducted and killed.

The Pro-Israeli advocacy group Honest Reporting alleged that some journalists on the ground in Gaza were associated to Hamas. In response, CNN severed its ties with a photographer with alleged links to Hamas. In contrast, other outlets, including Reuters, AP, and New York Times, cited that they all use freelance journalists around the world, including in Gaza, but denied any advance knowledge of the October 7th attacks.

Honest Reporting also posted about the specific Pictures of the Year award.

“Congratulations to @AP for winning a Pictures of the Year award. How does it feel to do so on the back of Palestinian photojournalists who infiltrated Israel on Oct. 7 and took photos like the one below of Shani Louk’s dead body in a Hamas pickup?

“Was @RJI bothered about that before bestowing the award?”

Honest Reporting has also written an article on the award, claiming that “bestowing such honors carries far-reaching ramifications. The photographers and their organizations gain reputational, professional and financial benefits from such recognition.” Honest Reporting maintains that there are concerns about the winning photographers despite having backtracked on some of its initial allegations.