R 241516Z FEB 09 ZUI ASN-A00055000011
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-092//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N05728//
ALCOAST 114/09
COMDTNOTE 5728
SUBJ:  ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR EDITING OF COAST GUARD VISUAL IMAGERY

A.  221746Z SEP O8 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC - ALCOAST 614/08
B.  36 CFR 1228.266, NARA REGULATIONS, AUDIOVISUAL RECORDS
C.  36 CFR 1232, NARA REGULATIONS, AUDIOVISUAL RECORDS MANAGEMENT
D.  PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANUAL, COMDTINST M5728.2 (SERIES)
E.  051438Z NOV O8 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC - ALCOAST 548/08
F.  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES, 01 DEC 05
G.  CODE OF ETHICS, SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS, 1996
H.  NATIONAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION, DIGITAL MANIPULATION
CODE OF ETHICS, 1991
I.  ASSOCIATED PRESS STYLEBOOK, 2007

1.  TO FURTHER DEFINE PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM STANDARDS AND
PRACTICES AS DETAILED IN REF A, THIS ALCOAST PROVIDES GUIDANCE
REGARDING WHAT CONSTITUTES ACCEPTABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE PRACTICES
FOR THE EDITING OF OFFICIAL COAST GUARD IMAGERY INTENDED FOR
RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC, THE INTERNET OR BROADCAST AND PRINT PRESS.
THE CONTINUING ADVANCES IN DIGITAL IMAGERY DEVICES AND EDITING
SOFTWARE DEMAND CLEAR GUIDANCE TO HELP ALL COAST GUARD PERSONNEL
MAINTAIN THE HIGH JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY OF THE SERVICES IMAGERY
AND OUR ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ARCHIVING OF
IMAGERY IN REF B AND C.  THE EASE AND SPEED WITH WHICH IMAGERY
CAPTURED IN THE FIELD CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PUBLIC, THE
BROADCAST OR PRINT PRESS, THE INTERNET AND OTHER AUDIENCES FURTHER
HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR ALL PERSONNEL TO UNDERSTAND AND ADHERE TO
THE ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR COAST GUARD VISUAL IMAGERY.

2.  ONE OF THE USES OF COAST GUARD VISUAL IMAGERY IS TO PROVIDE
UNDERSTANDING OF AND SUPPORT FOR COAST GUARD MISSIONS AND
OPERATIONS.  BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR OPERATIONS, THE PRESS, AS
WELL AS THE PUBLIC, MUST RELY UPON OUR SERVICE TO PROVIDE IMAGERY
THAT ACCURATELY AND OBJECTIVELY PORTRAYS THE COAST GUARD. FOR THOSE
REASONS, COAST GUARD IMAGERY MUST NEVER BE MANIPULATED.

3.  THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS ARE DEFINED AS MANIPULATION AND THEREFORE
ARE NEVER ALLOWED:
  A.  ADDING, MOVING, OR REMOVING OBJECTS WITHIN THE FRAME.
  B.  ANY ADJUSTMENTS OF COLOR OR GRAY SCALE.
  C.  CROPPING IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ALTER THE MEANING OF THE PHOTOGRAPH.
  D.  FLOPPING A PHOTOGRAPH (LEFT/RIGHT REVERSAL).

4.  THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS ARE DEFINED AS PHOTO EDITING OR VIDEO
EDITING AND ARE ALLOWED:
  A.  CROPPING A FRAME TO FIT A LAYOUT.
  B.  DIGITALLY OBSCURING PORTIONS OF A PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE IN
SUPPORT OF SPECIFIC SECURITY, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, PRIVACY OR
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IAW REF D.
  C.  SUBTLE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TECHNICAL QUALITY OF VIDEO - NOT
PHOTOS - SUCH AS ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AUDIO AND VIDEO LEVELS, COLOR
CORRECTIONS NEEDED DUE TO POOR WHITE BALANCE, OR EQUALIZATION OF
AUDIO TO MAKE SOUND CLEARER, PROVIDED THE ADJUSTMENTS DO NOT ALTER
THE EDITORIAL CONTENT OF THE VIDEO OR AUDIO AND ARE CHANGED SOLELY
TO CLARIFY THE CONTENT FOR PUBLIC RECORD.

5.  NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY MUST NEVER BE POSED.

6.  AS DATA LOSS AND DEGRADATION OF IMAGE QUALITY CAN OCCUR THROUGH
CHANGING AND THEN RE-SAVING A JPEG FILE, REF B AND C OUTLINE THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPERLY ARCHIVING PHOTOGRAPHS FOR PUBLIC
CONSUMPTION, OFFICIAL COAST GUARD USE, AND MAINTAINING AS PART OF
OUR SERVICES HISTORY.

7.  COAST GUARD PHOTOS AND VIDEO TELL THE SERVICES STORY MORE
DRAMATICALLY THAN ANY WRITTEN PRODUCT.  REF D DETAILS THE NEED FOR
AND THE RULES GOVERNING THE RELEASE OF COAST GUARD IMAGERY. REF D
ALSO STATES THAT ALL PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO TAKEN ABOARD COAST GUARD
UNITS ARE SUBJECT TO SCREENING AND APPROVAL OF THE COMMANDING
OFFICER PRIOR TO RELEASE FOR COMMERCIAL OR PUBLIC USE.  THIS
INCLUDES IMAGERY CAPTURED USING PERSONAL CAMERAS.  ALL IMAGERY
TAKEN ABOARD COAST GUARD UNITS IS CONSIDERED OFFICIAL AND MAY NOT,
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BE USED FOR MARKETING OR SOLD FOR
PRIVATE GAIN.  THIS DOES NOT HOWEVER PRECLUDE THE USE OF IMAGERY
CAPTURED USING PERSONAL CAMERAS OR OTHER PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICES IN
CONJUNCTION WITH PERSONAL UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTINGS PROVIDED THE
IMAGES HAVE BEEN CLEARED FOR RELEASE BY THE COGNIZANT COMMAND AS
DISCUSSED IN REF E.

8.  BECAUSE THE PRIMARY CONSUMERS OF COAST GUARD VISUAL IMAGERY ARE
THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC, IT IS CRITICAL THOSE AUDIENCES TRUST THE
IMAGERY WE RELEASE TO THEM.  THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST RATING
IS FOUNDED UPON THE PRINCIPLES OF JOURNALISM AND PHOTOJOURNALISM
WHICH REQUIRE THE STRICTEST ADHERENCE TO THE STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY
AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOR.  ACCORDINGLY THIS GUIDANCE ALIGNS WITH
STANDARDS FOUND IN REFS F, G, AND H.  PUBLIC AFFAIRS PRACTITIONERS
SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THESE REFERENCES AND SHALL ASSIST
COLLATERAL DUTY COAST GUARD PHOTOGRAPHERS IN MEETING THE STANDARDS
OF THIS ALCOAST.

9.  REQUIRED PRACTICES:
  A.  ALL COAST GUARD VISUAL IMAGERY INTENDED FOR OFFICIAL RELEASE
SHALL BE PROCESSED IAW REF D.
  B.  ALL OFFICIAL VIDEO INTENDED FOR RELEASE OR POSTED ON THE
INTERNET SHALL HAVE AN IDENTIFYING SLATE PRECEDING AND IMMEDIATELY
FOLLOWING THE FOOTAGE INDICATING THE SOURCE OF THE VIDEO (UNIT
NAME, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE/DETACHMENT), DATE SHOT, FULL NAME, RANK
AND TITLE OF ANY SPOKESPERSONS NOT OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED IN THE
FOOTAGE, INCLUDING FULL IDENTIFICATION OF ANY NARRATORS OR
INTERVIEWS WHERE THE SPEAKER CANNOT BE SEEN BY THE VIEWER. FIELD
UNITS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE A SLATE ON THE
VIDEO AND THAT DISTRIBUTE VIDEO TO THE PRESS VIA TAPE SHALL PUT THE
SAME INFORMATION ON THE TAPE AND AN ACCOMPANYING RUN SHEET.
UNITS CAN CONTACT THE LOCAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF FOR ASSISTANCE.
  C.  ALL COAST GUARD VISUAL IMAGERY MUST BE FULLY CAPTIONED, IAW
REFS D AND I. THIS REQUIREMENT APPLIES EQUALLY REGARDLESS OF THE
DISTRIBUTION TOOL USED (E.G. FLICKR, PICASA, YOUTUBE, DVIDS, CGVI,
ETC.) UNIT COLLATERAL DUTY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS AND FIELD
PERSONNEL SHOULD REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM THEIR SERVICING PUBLIC
AFFAIRS OFFICE OR STAFF IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS
REQUIREMENT.
  D.  VIDEO OR PHOTOGRAPHIC POST-PRODUCTION ENHANCEMENT INCLUDING
ANIMATION, DIGITAL SIMULATION, GRAPHICS, AND SPECIAL EFFECTS, USED
FOR DRAMATIC OR NARRATIVE EFFECT IN EDUCATION, RECRUITING, SAFETY
AND TRAINING ILLUSTRATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, OR PRODUCTIONS IS
AUTHORIZED PROVIDED IT IS CLEARLY AND READILY APPARENT FROM THE
CONTEXT OR ACCOMPANYING TEXT THAT THE ENHANCED IMAGE IS NOT
INTENDED TO BE AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF ANY ACTUAL EVENT, AND
THE PRODUCT IS CLEARLY LABELED AS AN ILLUSTRATION (EX. PHOTO
ILLUSTRATION BY PA1 JANE SMITH).

10.  WHEN IN DOUBT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT AN EDITING TECHNIQUE IS AN
ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE, CONTACT YOUR SERVICING PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF,
DISTRICT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE OR THE IMAGERY BRANCH OF THE OFFICE
OF GOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS (CG-09221). THE STANDARDS
DEFINED IN THIS ALCOAST WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT UPDATE TO REF D.

11.  QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS POLICY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO PAC
KIMBERLY SMITH, CG-09221, AT 202-372-4611, TELFAIR BROWN, CG-09221,
AT 202-372-4615 OR VIA EMAIL TO KIMBERLY.R.SMITH(AT)USCG.MIL,
TELFAIR.BROWN(AT)USCG.MIL.

12.  RDML MARY E. LANDRY, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS, SENDS.

13.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

BT
NNNN