The Story 

BP needs better PR advice.  A company spokesperson admitted to altering a photo of their Houston crisis center.  Photos were added where video feeds were blank. 

 
Read more here.  Image source.

Discussion Starters

• BP denies any sinister intent and blames a photographer.  What do you think?  No harm done?
• What about other altered photos?  Here's a fun tour of altered photos through history.  Take a look a few recent ones.  What about this President Obama photo-turned-Economist cover?  Or this model, whose altered image was banned in the UK by the Advertising Standards Authority?
• This Dove video became viral on YouTube very quickly.  Why would a company like Dove post a video like this?  How does this help their "Campaign for Real Beauty"?

Assignment Ideas

• Use Photoshop or another program to edit graphics and try to alter an image.  See if you can do a more professional job than BP's photographer.
• Look at photos in your favorite magazine.  How do you think they may have been altered?  Discuss with a partner how changing a photo for a cover, article, or advertisement may affect your perspective.
• As you plan your next presentation with visual support, think about what photos or other graphics you can alter to enhance your message.  What alterations could be misleading for your audience?