The Reuters Thing
August 7th, 2006 | by MadHacktress |It’s not news that news agencies like to have the biggest scoop, or the best story to tell. It’s just unfortunate that, when there’s a way going on, the feel the need to fabricate it.
I don’t really know what synaptic misfire causes someone in the news to think that pictures coming out of Lebanon needed help to be compelling. Like smoldering people and crushed buildings don’t speak for themselves. Someone actually thought that they needed to be smolderinger. Egad.
A political cartoon (featured below) is a clever commentary on the subject (as they are supposed to be):
Reuters is, hands down, my favourite wire news service and I really am disappointed when I hear this kind of stuff about them. I hope that this doesn’t go too far to damage their reputation but, at the same time, I hope that this is, for them and all their ilk, a learning experience.
Just tell it like it is.
An interesting, yet somewhat fire and brimstone-esque, take on the matter is here.
Entry Filed under: In The News, Pure Opinion
Apparently there were only two images from a freelance photographer that were doctored. And Reuters did the right thing in my mind, by withdrawing all 920 of this particular photographers images even though it seems only two of the images appear to have been fabricated.
I also think that Reuters addressing the issue up front and explaining their policy and reprocusions on images that have been doctored will help soften an any possible negative feed back that they might receive.