[Leica] access and viewpoint (was charlotte observer)

[kcassidy at asc.upenn.edu (Kyle Cassidy)]

>I am far more concerned with straight photography lying than changing the
>color of the sky.  We all know that access and viewpoint can make a lot of
>difference in the story you tell if the editors will let you tell the story
>you want.  Reference the NYTimes stories coming out of the Soviet Union in
>the 20's and 30's saying all was well in the Ukraine when hundreds of
>thousands were starving to death.
 
i noticed wolf blitzer on CNN yesterday in jerusalem, reporting on the war. 
looking very much like a tourist in his unbuttoned yellow checked short 
sleeve shirt, he was standing in a bomb shelter with some isralie solders 
asking pointed questions like "was that a rocket we just heard? how many 
times have you heard rockets? do you feel safe?"
 
i may be watching the wrong news channels, but i haven't seen anybody 
huddled under a desk in beruit reporting on the war. 
 
just by picking the place in which to stand mr. blitzer has made an 
editorial decision -- either about the degree of risk he's willing to 
accept, or the POV from which the war will be framed by his reportage. 
sadly, i think this is much more detrimental to journalism than changing the 
color of the sky.