Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/08/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]This is all part of an extremely disturbing trend in this country having to do with the politicization of the mainstream media, a move back toward the era in which major newspapers - which was all that existed then in terms of "the media" - were house organs for political parties. Sadly, the latest PEW survey on the public and the media indicates that this is happening, in part, because it's what the public wants. Republicans, for example, believe that Fox is even handed and accurate, while Democrats have no faith in Fox and tend to believe CNN. I will argue that CNN is far closer to being balanced than Fox, but that aside, I think that what these findings indicate is that people believe that the network or newspaper that tells them what they already believe to be true is the one they view as accurate. People are no longer reading newspaper, or watching t.v. news, to learn what's going on - they are reading or watching to have their preconceived belief set reinforced and validated. And that is truly frightening in terms of its implications for the future of the country. The thought that a Presidential campaign would even think to ask the race of a reporter or photographer being assigned to cover an event is appalling - as is the idea that they would want to know how the person was registered as a voter. B. D. ----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Kyle Cassidy Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 10:50 AM To: 'lug@leica-users.org' Subject: [Leica] Campaign solicits race of Arizona Star photographer,turns away t wo Albuquerque Journal Reporters They should have asked if she had a Leica.... However, apparantly staffers for Vice President Cheney wanted to know the race of the photographer sent to cover a ralley by the Arizona Daily Star. http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/32301.php Access to the same ralley was denied to two Albuquerque Journal Journalists who were discovered to be registered democrats, while a third, a registered republican, was allowed to cover the event. http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/204620elex07-30-04.htm I've kept my political views to myself while photographing political events, which, I think, is the duty of all journalists. I believe my political portraits are indeed "fair and balanced". To selectively allow particular media access to events is really an attempt to distort coverage. This isn't about politics, it's about journalism, and therefore, I think relevant to this list. Real reporters and photojournalists should be above accusations of partisanship in their reporting and politicians must respect this. The role of a free press is partly to shine a light on the government, and if this is tampered with our ability to report and to be witnesses for the public is tampered with, the truth can become distorted and the free press is no longer free. I realize there is more to leica photography than news gathering, but it's an important part of this camera's history. I'm not sure if the LUG is capable of discussing access to the media without partisan barbs, I hope we can. If we can't, Brian's just going to delete this post and nobody will see it anyway..... kc _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information