War photography has long played a powerful role in shaping public opinion. During the Vietnam War, images of civilian casualties broadcast on television and published in major newspapers prompted widespread protests across North America, including Canada. Scholars argue that this visual evidence forced governments to confront the human cost of armed conflict in ways that written reports alone could not achieve. In recent decades, Canadian photojournalists working for outlets such as the CBC and The Globe and Mail have documented conflicts in Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine. Their work has contributed to policy debates in Ottawa about military involvement, refugee intake, and foreign aid commitments. However, critics point out that editorial decisions — including which images are published and which are withheld — can shape public perception as much as the photographs themselves. Some researchers caution that repeated exposure to graphic war imagery can lead to a phenomenon called compassion fatigue, in which audiences gradually become desensitized and emotionally disengaged. As a result, the long-term impact of war photography on public action remains contested. Despite this concern, most journalism educators in Canada continue to argue that documenting armed conflict honestly remains an essential responsibility of the press.

According to the passage, what is one concern raised about war photography?