While many social media users had no problem posting photo after photo of alleged shooter Luigi Mangione, the UnitedHealthcare CEO. new york times He is clearly grappling with the issue of releasing the 26-year-old’s portrait.
According to independent reporter Ken Klippenstein, the paper’s senior editor new york times A message was sent to staff via the Slack platform asking them to “call back” with a photo of Mangione’s mugshot.
Klippenstein, former investigative reporter for The New York Times intercept, published the allegedly leaked information, in which Now Photo editor shares “latest guidance” on shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The messages were sent last Tuesday, December 10, the day after Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
“We had Mangione leading the site overnight (the images are very strong), but as more details emerged, his profile was closer to a mass shooter than anything else (mental health issues, shocking Crime, Manifesto, etc.),” the photo editor said in the message. “The news value and public service of showing up is diminished compared to concerns about amplifying crime and inspiring others — and we especially want to avoid mass shootings.”
These messages also indicate that Now Law enforcement asked reporters covering Thompson’s murder not to publish the gunman’s manifesto. Krippenstein issued a manifesto which he claimed to be true and later received daily beast and cited Democracy now.
this Now No reply yet allergicof Request to comment.
After Magone’s trial last week, Now published a photo taken by independent photographer Rachel Wisniewski of the accused Ivy League graduate staring at reporters as he walked into the courtroom. In later reports, only Mangione’s back could be seen.
Klippenstein on his Substack thinks this paper is The apparent decision to retain Mangione’s mugshot and manifesto means the publication “appoints itself as an enforcer of public safety.” Krippenstein argued that limiting Mangione’s mugshot, combined with complying with law enforcement’s request not to release Mangione’s declaration, “shapes the narrative in subtle ways that could be misleading.”
Krippenstein has not responded yet allergicof Request to comment.
Some publications have for years avoided publishing photos of individual defendants due to ethical concerns. Small media outlets often use slideshows of mugshots to generate web traffic and advertising revenue, but in 2020, things were reportedly starting to change for journalism. Marshall Plandoes not post photos at all. Other small publications, e.g. new haven independent Omit photos from their coverage.
In 2020, Johnny Perez, director of the Prison Project at the National Religious Movement Against Torture, said point and Marshall Plan Releasing the photos “creates a situation where people are criminalized before they are convicted.” In most cases, the practice of releasing the photos risks perpetuating stereotypes against people of color and “undermining[e] There is a presumption of innocence,” Perez said.
The inclusion of mugshots is not subject to journalistic ethics standards set by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). The SPJ’s ethics code does, however, require journalists to “balance the public need for information against potential harm or discomfort” and “avoid pandering to sensational curiosity, even if others do.”
It’s not clear from this NowThe Online Ethics Manual asked whether the publication had a policy regarding photos of individuals accused of major crimes; however, the newspaper did publish a mugshot of Donald Trump in August 2023.
Mangione’s image is easily found on the social media pages of relevant law enforcement agencies. allergicof A request from Pennsylvania State Police Headquarters to use the images was approved within half an hour.
