Representational images: A look at the 'best' pictures of this sort that Indian publications use and reuse

The concept of a representational image is an interesting one. As news publications push out a staggering amount of news with an ever-decreasing staff , ’editorial discretion’ in some stories goes, well, missing. And nowhere is this lack of editorial discretion visible more than in the selection of representational images. Used when an actual image of the incident is unavailable, these are somewhat related images which add a visual element to the page. While some publications take time to select these, some seem to throw in the first Google image result they see. As believers in a strong and intelligent media, we have taken the responsibility of going through a bajillion stories to find the best of the best, the shining beacons of journalism, the very peaks of editorial intelligence in Indian media. It seems appropriate to start with the newspaper with the highest readership, The Times of India. A large readership brings with it the necessity of a large number of news stories. Which at least is the excuse those at the paper will give for the following images. Remember the time when you had do online fraud activities and you dressed up with a tie and mask to get ready. You were so sure no one would catch you. You were wrong. [caption id=“attachment_4332271” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Online fraud. Image courtesy: The Times of India[/caption]     After reading such stellar reportage by The Times of India, we really felt like frauds. Perhaps we should take the following image from a story about a student being duped as our default profile picture. [caption id=“attachment_4332291” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Fraud. Image credit: The Times of India[/caption]     Over then to The Times of India’s great rival, Hindustan Times. Its excellent coverage of health issues is matched only by its perfect image of a real doctor. After all if your doctor doesn’t tell you your diagnosis in bold letters on a screen, s/he is doing it wrong. [caption id=“attachment_4332297” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Cancer. Image credit: Hindustan Times[/caption]     Did you know that unless you stand in front of giant UK flag, they don’t grant you a visa. True story. [caption id=“attachment_4332321” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Visa. Image credit: Hindustan Times[/caption]     Hindustan Times can then clearly match up to The Times of India. Meanwhile the fraud feeling is coming back again. [caption id=“attachment_4332329” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Fraud. Image credit: Hindustan Times[/caption]     The Indian Express has a reputation for being a proper newspaper with serious reportage. So it is always nice to see it use images like the one used for a positive story. [caption id=“attachment_4332357” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Positive cab story. Image credit: The Indian Express[/caption]     All Saudis look the same. All of them. [caption id=“attachment_4332363” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Saudis. Image credit: The Indian Express[/caption]     The Indian Express also knows the best way to quit your job. You just need a chalkboard, some chalk and a desire for no future in the industry. [caption id=“attachment_4332383” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Resignation. Image credit: The Indian Express[/caption]     Finally, India Today is our representative from the magazine genre. Magazines have more time to process their stories. But you wouldn’t know that from these images. Manish Sapra is a human being. But using his image would have been too mainstream. So instead they went with five outlines with gears and then a lot people in their legs. [caption id=“attachment_4332419” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] GMAC. Image credit: India Today[/caption]     Did you know lifestyle habits can turn your heart into wood? [caption id=“attachment_4332439” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Lifestyle habits. Image credit: India Today[/caption]     Finally, if any of the publications cannot justify their editorial choices, they could just claim they were hacked. [caption id=“attachment_4332445” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Hacked. Image credit: India Today[/caption]