That’s the opinion of Thomas Wheeler, a University of Oregon journalism professor, following reports that CBS News used the new technology to block out an NBC logo during New Year’s Eve coverage from Times Square in New York. The CBS network used digital technology to impose their own logo over the real one. CBS anchor Dan Rather says he has misgivings about the deception, but CBS executives say they would do it again without hesitation. Wheeler, whose book "Photofiction? Ethics and Media Imagery in the Digital Age" will be published later this year, says "CBS’ New Year’s Eve shenanigans are hardly the most egregious examples of this kind of deception in recent years. But every time journalists use manipulated images that violate the expectations of their viewers they are putting their credibility on the ropes." Wheeler suggests network executives, anchor people and other professionals "should be doing everything they can to regain public trust rather than recklessly squandering what little trust remains." SOURCE: Thomas Wheeler, UO associate professor of journalism, (541) 346-3743 (office), (541) 343-0379 (home); e-mail twheeler@oregon.uoregon.edu.

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