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December 16, 2004
This bothers me ...
As I do from time to time, I scroll through the Yahoo slide shows, which feature mostly Reuters and AP photos.
I came back to these three, by the same AP photographer, Bilal Hussein.
From left to right, the first two are supposed "insurgents" who kidnapped and then executed an Italian civilian. The right picture is captioned thusly:
Insurgents, using small arms and mortars, launch an attack on U.S. forces in Fallujah, Iraq (news - web sites), in this Nov. 8, 2004 file photo.
I have trouble with how cozy this AP photographer is with the terrorists. I realize he's a Hussein from Fallujah so his own personal feelings and associations may be on display here, but did the Associated Press, which has been around since 1848, employ Nazis to get photos showing attacks on the Allies and the execution of Jews? If not, why? Or why do they do it now?
Posted by Darleen at December 16, 2004 07:57 AM
Comments
- Actually Darleen the answer is "yes". Telenews and some of the other world news services used pictures and war front reports credited to reporters from so-called "nuetral" countries extensively during WWI and WWII. In some cases many of the posting's were even from enemy reporters. Its common for the fourth estates of warring countries to "backdoor" communicate, raising all sorts of questions in the area's of morality and integrity, not to mention propogandizing. Its one of those "Double edged swords" issues because there are many documented cases where enemy reports inadvertantly provided valuable information to the Allies. Of course its a two way street.....
Posted by: Big Bang Hunter at December 16, 2004 09:49 AM
Thanks Hunter
I was running a few google searches and finding what you're tell us here.
I just experience a little queasiness at this 'different' level of engagement on the moral plane that reporters put themselves in.
Posted by: Darleen at December 16, 2004 10:03 AM
Darlene,
I agree with your discomfort. You'll be happy to know that Bilal Hussein - along with other AP photographers- has been awarded a Pulitzer for those pictures. So there are rewards for promoting terror.
Posted by: David Gerstman at April 4, 2005 07:04 PM