Government entities shouldn’t significantly alter photographs to match their public relations messaging. This principle was put to the test recently when the Town of Edenton posted a manipulated image on its official Facebook page on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, sparking immediate criticism from community members who could spot the digital alterations.

The Photo in Question

The image featured two children fishing off the waterfront near the cannons on Water Street — a genuinely beautiful scene captured by Missy Schmieler. One of the children, whom I recognize from my own child’s school, had a bright, genuine smile in the original photograph. The scene included a flagpole with an American flag waving in the breeze and Elizabeth Vann Moore Park visible in the background.

Based on my long career in journalism and graphic design, it looks like the photo was taken with a phone, as the resolution isn’t as crisp as it could be with a professional camera. With the corners blackened, indicating that either a filter was used or something is covering part of the lens that allowed the natural framing to bring focus to the subject in the image. Overall, it’s a great photo.

However, the version posted by the town was heavily altered. The modifications were immediately apparent to those familiar with both the location and digital image manipulation. The light pole was repositioned closer to the children while maintaining its original size, creating an unnatural perspective. More troubling, the children themselves had been digitally altered — the smiling child’s expression was changed and he appeared to have extra fingers. Even the fishing poles were at different angles than in the original.

The photo was a perfect illustration of Americana in Edenton, it didn’t need to be altered.

Schiemler noted that she didn’t use AI to alter the photo and clarified the situation on Facebook: “I gave permission for the town to use my photo. I did not consent for them to alter it. I already reached out to them and it will be addressed, hopefully, tomorrow.”

This statement underscores a crucial distinction — permission to use a photograph does not automatically grant permission to alter it.

As someone who has worked in the journalism industry for over 30 years, I have worked with photographers in communities all over the South and as far north as Toledo, Ohio. When you ask for permission to use a photograph, you also need to ask permission to alter the photo if you think you may use it in a graphic. Photographs are art, composed because the artist saw something in what they captured. What you may see as a boring sky that needs to be cropped out, could be the reason that photo was taken in the first place.

The art should be respected.

Town Issues Statement

The Town of Edenton issued the following statement Saturday (Sept. 6) morning:

The Town of Edenton would like to extend a sincere apology regarding the photo that was recently posted in an altered form. The image was modified in an effort to convey a sense of relatable Americana: however, this altered version was shared in error.

We want to make clear that it was never our intention to show any disrespect to the photographer Melissa Schmieler or to the individuals depicted in the photo. We have the utmost respect and appreciation for those who document the authentic spirit of our community, and we regret that this instance may have suggested otherwise.

Moving forward, we will take additional care to ensure that original works are represented accurately and with the respect they deserve.

Timing and Context Matter

This incident occurred approximately two weeks after a court ruling allowed the town to proceed with relocating a Confederate monument — a contentious issue. The timing suggests the altered image may have been intended to project unity and showcase Edenton’s appeal during a particularly sensitive period.

While the town has legitimate authority to pursue the monument’s relocation through their memorandum of understanding, the lack of public notice on the move, which happened during Labor Day weekend in the middle of the night, created tension. The town would’ve been wise to have had a prepared statement ready the moment the crane started moving the statue to explain the dark o’clock timing, rather than wait for a long — long — news cycle to issue a statement.

The altered image was shared on Facebook by the town but also by individuals on Instagram and other social media channels. On a side note, the town’s official Instagram page hasn’t been updated since February 2025.

Transparency and authenticity in government communications becomes even more critical during such divisive times. As the official Town of Edenton Facebook page, the page should be a trusted source — the source — of news coming from the town. As such, the town has an obligation to portray the community accurate and treat outside sources who provide material fairly and honestly.

Possible edits

Above are two possible edits I made that keeps the original photo and adds the text in a way that doesn’t require manipulation. The first (left) uses text in the middle of the water. It should probably be bold, but you get the idea.

The second (right) uses a font that is often seen in Edenton on modern things that we want to look historic.

Better approaches would have included clearly labeling the image as altered, crediting both the original photographer and the digital artist, or simply adding text to the existing white space between the flag and the children rather than manipulating the core elements.

The manipulation appeared aimed at reformatting a vertical photograph into a format better suited for social media platforms, by putting the main content of the image into a square space, rather than a rectangle. This is a common and acceptable practice — when done properly and transparently.

The altered version also exhibited tell-tale signs of AI enhancement, including unrealistic toning that made weathered wood appear artificially bright and the ground doesn’t match the actual mix of concrete blocks, dirt and grass at the location. The generic sans serif font choice — a common AI default — further contributed to the artificial appearance.

The Broader Implications

This incident highlights a larger issue about government transparency and digital communication. When public entities use manipulated images, even for seemingly innocent purposes, it erodes trust and raises questions about what else might be presented in a misleading way.

Journalists and the general public have an obligation to call out governments that use material in a manner inconsistent with their values.

As an example, recently a Virginia-based media source ran a story about Edenton that incorrectly listed the location of Confederate Memorial that had been dismantled. While some local media went with their version of the information, spreading misinformation, we at the Albemarle Observer used our knowledge of the area, visited the site in question and looked at the image to determine the location was elsewhere.

Edenton doesn’t need photo magic, like fast food restaurants do to make the town appealing. Show people the bay, the historic structure, people living their regular lives — those stories speak louder than any AI-created fantasy.

In the case of this photo, local residents demonstrated impressive media literacy by immediately recognizing the alterations. This community awareness serves as a valuable check against misleading visual communications, whether intentional or accidental.

How to Spot AI and Digitally Altered Images

As AI-generated and manipulated images become more common, developing the ability to identify them is crucial for media literacy. Here are key indicators to watch for:

Anatomical Inconsistencies:

• Extra or missing fingers, toes, or limbs
• Unnatural hand positioning or proportions
• Facial features that don’t align properly
• Hair that defies physics or blends unnaturally with backgrounds

Environmental Clues:

• Objects that are disproportionate to their surroundings
• Lighting that doesn’t match across the entire image
• Shadows that fall in impossible directions
• Backgrounds that don’t match the supposed location

Technical Red Flags:

• Overly smooth or waxy-looking skin textures
• Repetitive patterns in backgrounds or clothing
• Inconsistent image quality between different areas
• Text or signage that appears distorted or nonsensical

Local Knowledge Advantage:
Community members often spot manipulated images of familiar locations because they notice when details don’t match reality — like the wrong type of bricks, uncharacteristic water depth, or misplaced landmarks.

Moving Forward

The Town of Edenton had an opportunity to create genuinely unifying content during a challenging time. While this particular effort fell short, there are constructive paths forward. Government agencies — International County Managers Association, National League of Cities — offer free courses on public relations and digital communication best practices. Local expertise in photo editing and social media compliance could be leveraged more effectively.

For future posts, simple transparency measures would suffice: clearly labeling altered images, providing proper attribution, and when necessary, sharing original versions in comments. The goal should be authentic communication that builds rather than undermines public trust.

The original photograph captured a wonderful moment of children enjoying Edenton’s waterfront — a genuinely positive image that needed no artificial enhancement to convey the town’s appeal. Sometimes the truth is the most powerful public relations tool of all.

As consumers of digital media, we all benefit from developing sharper eyes for image manipulation. In an era where seeing should no longer mean believing without question, critical visual literacy has become an essential civic skill.

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