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LA Times reporter fired for 'photochopping' photos

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by rockHEAD, Apr 2, 2003.

  1. rockHEAD

    rockHEAD Member

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    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    pic 1 + pic 2
    [​IMG]
    equals pic 3

    ---
    Photographer Fired for Altering Picture - link to images

    link to story from Washington Post

    excerpt:


    Photographer Fired for Altering Picture

    The Los Angeles Times said Wednesday it fired a photographer for altering a front page photo of a British soldier and a group of Iraqi civilians.

    In an editor's note in Wednesday editions, the Times said photographer Brian Walski acknowledged in a phone call from Iraq that he had used a computer to combine elements of two photos to improve the composition.

    Journalism ethics forbid changing the content of news photographs, and it is specifically barred in the newspaper's policy.

    The two photos, taken moments apart, showed a British soldier directing Iraqi civilians to protect themselves from possible Iraqi fire on the outskirts of Basra. Only after the altered photo appeared Monday did editors notice that some civilians in the background appeared twice, the Times said.
     
  2. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    I understand the ethical concerns, but is this really that big a deal? When I first read the headline at Drudge, I was thinking he added some stuff that wasn't even there in the first place.
     
  3. rockHEAD

    rockHEAD Member

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    other than newspaper ethics, i don't see it as a big deal.. there are far worse things going on in this world than altered images.
     
  4. rrj_gamz

    rrj_gamz Member

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    This isn't a big deal considering a lot of the crap that has gone on in the Stock market and with companies lately...

    Give a brother a break...It's not like he altered it showing him shooting someone...:rolleyes:
     
  5. Pole

    Pole Houston Rockets--Tilman Fertitta's latest mess.

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    I can see why he got fired....it's an understood ethics thing.

    What I can understand is why it made news anywhere.....big deal...people get fired every day.
     
  6. PhiSlammaJamma

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    It's almost like he got fired for being artistic, but credibility is everything, and rules are rules.
     
  7. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

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    I think it is a pretty big deal. There is a reason why journalistic ethics frown on this behavior. Photographs do a lot to mold the perceptions of the readership. When you show things that didn't actually happen, you're essentially lying to the public. In one particular event, the effect may be inoccuous but it sets a precedent for next time and creates an atmosphere of tolerance for this practice. Then, it won't be such a jump to be manipulating the photos not for composition so much as for effect and you start trying to manipulate public opinion with your lies. I'm glad the guy got fired. I think a newsroom should have an atmosphere that lets everyone know that deception will not be tolerated.
     
  8. mrpaige

    mrpaige Member

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    This is one of those things that most newspaper people take extremely seriously. It is a huge deal to them.... not so much to the average person, though.
     
  9. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    Absolutely, JV. And it's symptomatic of the state of the public's perception of journalism's ability to report the truth, as best they can, that so many might think this isn't a big deal. Stephen Ambrose is paying quite a price right now for uncredited use of sources, indeed, plagerism, in one or two of his works. I wish I could remember which ones, sorry. Do a google. :)

    With the technology at our diposal today, isn't it even more important for the press to maintain as much integrity as they can.. before the public becomes as cynical as they are about politics? I can't count the number of times I've heard people I otherwise respect tell me they didn't bother to vote because "they're all the same, they're all in someone's pocket... it doesn't matter who I vote for, so why bother??". Which drives me nuts.

    How long will it be before we dismiss our news media, enshrined in the Constitution and whose freedom is paid for in blood, because we can't trust anything they put out? Anything? I think it's a big deal.
     
  10. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    He could always get a job with Al Jazeera they have no ethics.

    DD
     
  11. ewfd

    ewfd Member

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    or Fox News.
     
  12. TraJ

    TraJ Member

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    If you don't like them, fine. Don't watch. But to say that Fox News has no ethics borders and stupidity
     
  13. fadeaway

    fadeaway Member

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    He was right to be fired.
     
  14. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    I agree. I thought it was a complete BS photo, but after looking at the other two he took. (or were taken by someone else)it is not much of a big deal that the 3rd photo was made.
     
  15. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

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    I'd say the same about dismissing al Jazeera.
     
  16. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Did you see the piece on MSNBC about the difference in what Al Jazeera is reporting and what the rest of the media is reporting.

    Al Jazeera is a propaganda station, they are SOOOOO far off base in facts that it is ridiculous.

    I still say the USA needs to get a television station up in Iraq and broadcast to the entire Middle East that is counter programming to Al Jazeera.

    DD
     
  17. TraJ

    TraJ Member

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    Do you really believe that there's no difference between Fox News and al Jazeera?
     
  18. Mr. Mooch

    Mr. Mooch Contributing Member

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    "Attack of the Giant Brit!"
     
  19. r35352

    r35352 Member

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    I have watched only a little bit of Al Jazeera but on what basis do you claim that Al Jazeera is a propaganda station and unfactual while, say Fox News, is not?



    This is not a rhetorical question but a serious one.



    Al Jazeera is showing mostly the Iraqi side of things, (civilians killed, etc) it does seem like propaganda to us but this is also what interests Arab viewers the most. On the other hand, don't US stations show things like how US soldiers are heroes, run stories about rescues of US POWs, all sorts of pundits saying how this is to "liberate" Iraq and such.



    What exactly is it that Al Jazeera is doing which you object to which isn't done similarly by US sources?
     
  20. TraJ

    TraJ Member

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    We learn about the deaths of Iraqi civilians here in the US as well, and I'm interested in knowing about them. I don't want innocent people dead. I've even heard some criticism of our soldiers who shot and killed some civilians when the car wouldn't stop, even after warning shots.

    Here's my question: Does anyone think Al Jazeera is reporting that Iraqi civilians are needlessly being put in the way of harm by Saddam? Are they hearing that our soldiers most likely wouldn't feel the need to shoot if they didn't have to worry about fake surrenders, soldiers in civilian clothes, and suicide bombers? I doubt that's a message coming through loud and clear on Al Jazeera. It doesn't serve their purposes.
     

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