The Role of Photography in Breaking News Events: The Trump Assassination as an Example

Abstract

This paper explores the role of photography in breaking news events through photographs taken by Evan Vucci during the Trump assassination. Using content analysis, the study analyzed 105 public articles to explore the visual guiding power of photography and how the media uses images to influence public opinion. The study found that photography can quickly attract public attention and influence the emotional level, while media can shape a specific narrative framework through selective display. The life of a news report lies in vividness, truth, and vividness. The same is true of news photography. Capturing real moments with both visual and emotional impact is the best news photo [1]. Meanwhile, it points out the shortcomings of China’s WeChat in reporting, such as ignoring the victims and the deep-rooted causes, and suggests that the media should reflect on the problems in reporting and take social responsibility. The study also offers suggestions for future reporting practices, emphasizing the key role of photojournalism in shaping public perception and the importance of media ethics. The limitation of the study is that the sample mainly focuses on WeChat, with a short timeframe, and future research will expand the sample and deepen the analysis of the audience’s psychological and emotional responses.