Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/09/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Tina, I meant that the death of the journalist is no less nor more tragic than the death of any other in this violence. But a picture of a dying foreign journalist will garner more attention and outrage in the west. I agree that it is much more difficult to suppress news with the pervasive internet video and camera phones ownership. Regarding the citizen journalists, I see no distinction between paid nor volunteer, risking their lives for reporting. Being a professional is hardly compensation. Some world media is reporting raids, beatings and arrests at monasteries and up to eight known deaths in protests. I think that the ruling junta cares little for world opinion nor human rights of their own nor any other citizen. Ask Aung San Suu Kyi. There were upwards of 3000 deaths reported in protests there in 1988 yet the world has done nothing effective that I know of. This one death may galvanise more sympathy than those 3000. Hoppy -----Original Message----- To: Leica Users Group Subject: RE: [Leica] And the photo journalist falls.... At 06:57 PM 9/28/2007, you wrote: >It speaks about the world's perception that this photograph may >cause more outrage than one of a monk killed in the same situation, >yet it should not. > >Hoppy I'm not sure that's true, Hoppy. I think the Myanmar government is very aware of the importance of the presence of the monks and that is the only reason they've held back so far. One photojournalist more or less doesn't really matter to them, yet. In fact, the fewer pj's they have, the better. This whole incident has changed my opinion of "citizen journalists", though. I was very much concerned that unpaid volunteers might take the place of actual photojournalists in world news; but, in a case like this, the average citizens can continue sending their photos by e-mail when the actual pj's have been killed or suppressed. Now the news is reporting that internet access has been stopped to and from Myanmar, but someday that won't be a possibility and those who want to control the news won't be able to. If the monks are actually being killed or tortured, we are much more likely to know about it with the current accessibility through e-mail and internet. Tina Tina Manley ASMP, NPPA, EP, PI http://www.tinamanley.com _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information