Photography industry calls for collective accountability in the wake of #MeToo allegations against David Alan Harvey

On 14 January, photographers, students, curators, writers, academics and other professionals in the photography industry from around the world released a statement calling for collective accountability against sexual harassment in photography. The statement comes in the wake of an article in the Columbia Journalism Review, published on 21 December 2020, where eleven individuals accused the Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey of sexual harassment. The statement is reproduced in full below.

647 photographers, students, curators, writers, academics and other professionals in the photography industry from around the world have come together to call for collective accountability against sexual harassment in photography in the wake of an article in the Columbia Journalism Review where eleven individuals have made allegations with corroborating evidence against Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey. 

The statement expresses solidarity for the individuals who have spoken up. It calls on Magnum Photos to demonstrate leadership in the industry, by taking proactive and reparative steps towards setting new institutional precedents and standards. It also calls on all institutions, power holders and leadership in the photojournalism and wider image-making industry to actively participate in shifting the industry’s understanding of the challenges associated with addressing sexual harassment and abuses of power from an individual’s problem to a collective and systemic one that requires shared accountability and action.

Signatories include Alejandra Aragón, Photographer based in Ciudad Juárez; Amy Yenkin, Co-Founder of We, Women based in New York City; Ana Casas Broda, Co-director of Hydra, Mexico City; Anastasia Taylor-Lind, Photojournalist, London; Andrea Wise, Co-Founder, Diversify Photo; Anna Fox, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham; Alessia Glaviano, Brand Visual Director/Vogue Italia, Milano; Magnum photographers Bieke Depoorter, Carolyn Drake, Cristina De Middel, Hannah Price, Nanna Heitmann, Newsha Tavakolian, and Sohrab Hura; Daniella Zalcman, Executive Director, Women Photograph; Donald Weber, Royal Academy of Art; Photographer, Rotterdam; Elizabeth Krist, Visual Thinking Collective, Jersey City; Emmeline Yong, Co-founder & Director, Objectifs , Singapore; Emma Bowkett, Director of Photography, Financial Times Weekend Magazine, London; Francesca Filippini Pinto, Director of Business Development, The Photographers' Gallery, London; Isadora Romero, Freelance photographer, Quito; Jai Lennard, Founder, Color Positive, New York; Juliette Garms , Programs and Outreach Manager World Press Photo Foundation, Amsterdam; Hannah Reyes Morales, Manila; Hester Keijser, Independent Curator, Editor, Author, Den Haag; Karen Knorr, Photographer and Professor of Photography, London; Kelly Hussey-Smith, Lecturer, Photography, School of Art, RMIT University, Melbourne; Laia Abril, Artist, Barcelona; Lars Sven Willumeit, Curator, Zürich; Lekgetho Makola, Head- Market Photo Workshop, Johannesburg; Louise Fedotov-Clements, Director / FORMAT International Photography Festival, Derby; Lucy Conticello, Photo Editor, Paris; Madz Rehorek, Photographer, Tutor, RMIT University, Melbourne; Mohamed Somji, Gulf Photo Plus, Dubai; NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati, Festival Director - Photo Kathmandu, Kathmandu; Nina Berman, Photographer NOOR and Professor Columbia University, New York City; Oriana Koren, Founder, The Lit List; Founding Member, Authority Collective, Los Angeles; Peter DiCampo, Co-Founder, The Everyday Projects; Philip Blenkinsop, Emeritus Member VII Agency, Arles; Robert Godden, Executive Director, Rights Exposure; Shahidul Alam, Managing Director - Drik Picture Library, Dhaka; Shwe Wutt Hmon, Member/Thuma Collective, Yangon; Tanvi Mishra, Creative Director – The Caravan Magazine, New Delhi; Tanya Habjouqa , NOOR Author/ photographer, East Jerusalem; Tanzim Wahab, Festival Director - Chobi Mela, Dhaka; Tasneem Alsultan, Photojournalist / RUWA, Dammam; Tara Pixley, Authority Collective, Co-Founder + Board Member; Professor of Visual Journalism, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles; Yagazie Emezi, Photographer, Lagos; Yen Duong, Photographer, Ho Chi Minh City.

Statement calling for collective accountability against sexual harassment in photography 

In an article in the Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) by Kristen Chick published on 21 December 2020, eleven individuals have made allegations with corroborating evidence, of inappropriate and abusive behavior carried out over thirteen years by Magnum Photos member David Alan Harvey "ranging from suggestive comments to unwanted sexual advances to masturbating without their consent on video calls”.

We stand in solidarity with all these individuals, who have spoken their truth with incredible courage. We strongly condemn sexual harassment and abuse of power in all forms. We know that many survivors do not receive the support that would enable them to speak their truth, and so we acknowledge that the public testimonials that are visible are very likely only the tip of the iceberg. We recognize that each time someone shares their story of abuse they do so against great odds, due to substantial risks including re- traumatization, social and professional ostracization, loss of work and professional opportunities, and legal retaliation. 

While no remedial action can fully heal the wounds inflicted on survivors, honest and self-reflexive forms of acknowledgement and action are a critical first step. A meaningful apology tied to active and on-going commitment to action can significantly contribute towards repair. 

We note that the announcement of an investigation, as well as the provision of some information on the organization’s institutional workings, as released by Magnum Photos in their most recent statement dated 5th January 2021, are moves in the direction of accountability and transparency. To build the trust required for the proposed investigation to commence with any measure of success however, Magnum Photos must release their code of conduct and any other relevant information related to the investigation process as soon as possible, and certainly much before the investigation closes. To hold its standing in the industry, Magnum Photos must take full responsibility for addressing all ethical issues with regards to the conduct of their member/s, as well as the institutional practices that have raised alarming concerns about exploitation of minors. Both these matters require an equal measure of urgency as they reflect deep- rooted and systemic inequalities of power which can create the conditions that facilitate abuse.

As the promised investigation unfolds, we call on Magnum Photos to go beyond crisis-management methods; to not allow time, bureaucratic and legal limitations to get in the way; to not once again place the entire burden of proof on survivors, but instead to seek every possible alternative while gathering evidence and witness testimonies. We call on Magnum Photos to demonstrate moral courage and leadership beyond this case, by taking proactive and reparative steps towards setting new institutional precedents and standards. 

In stepping up and calling for change in the industry, we call on all institutions, power holders and leadership in the photojournalism and wider image-making industry to do the same. We call on them to actively participate in shifting our industry’s understanding of the challenges associated with addressing sexual harassment and abuses of power from an individual’s problem to a collective and systemic one that requires shared accountability and action. 

We stand in solidarity with all survivors who have had to endure sexual harassment, other forms of abuse and discrimination, silencing, and intimidation in the photojournalism and wider image-making industry due to their gender or sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, class, caste, ability, or any other system of marginalization;

We commit to listening, learning, and examining our own roles in being complicit in a culture that enables and normalizes such violations. As witnesses, bystanders, and allies, we pledge to take meaningful action to prevent a culture of impunity from continuing to cause damage, pain, and exclusion for so many of our friends and colleagues. 

We condemn the use of legal and monetary clout to silence individuals and institutions who work towards fighting these forms of gross abuse. 

We pledge to continue our commitments to developing the necessary resources and infrastructure to stand against sexual harassment and abuse of power - as slow, tiring and imperfect as the journey might feel. 

And we pledge to continue to speak out, stand in solidarity, and treat each other with basic human dignity and respect.