Pictures of disaster

Clark Hoyt, ombudsman for the New York Times, explains why the paper chose to run photographs depicting the dead in Haiti.

Picture of war (update)

In response to the debate over the publication of an Associated Press photograph of a mortally wounded Marine in Afghanistan, Tim McGuire at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism argues that news outlets have a responsibility to show the grim truth of war and shouldn't let government appeals or family feelings sway the decision.

McGuire writes:

My former ethics students have been particularly engaged by the controversy over the Associated Press transmission of the photo of the soldier who died in Afghanistan. One student wrote: “I thought of you as I was reading about the controversial photo of the Marine that AP posted, even after they were repeatedly asked not to by family and others. I was wondering what you thought about this picture and whether you would have posted it.”

If you are like me, the phrase that defines my student’s note and screams out is, “even after they were repeatedly asked not to by family and others.” For so many people following this controversy, including Robert Gates, that family request should have stopped publication. Gates was quoted as writing to AP, “Why your organization would purposely defy the family’s wishes knowing full well that it will lead to yet more anguish is beyond me. Your lack of compassion and common sense in choosing to put this image of their maimed and stricken child on the front page of multiple newspapers is appalling.”

This case is great evidence why journalistic publications in pursuit of news and bent on showing truth are never going to be friends with government, and even some of the public. It’s why business model discussions which might sacrifice real independence scare the heck out of me. I know there are people who feel the anger of this Associated Content commentator, but the contention that AP transmitted this photo in the pursuit of money displays such an incredible lack of understanding of how news works, it is staggering. ...

Read his entire essay here.

(via Romenesko)

Picture of war

An Associated Press photograph of a mortally wounded Marine in Afghanistan has raised old questions about the appropriateness of publishing photos of American soldiers who are dead or dying.

The picture, taken by AP photographer Julie Jacobson, shows two Marines tending to Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard after he was hit in the legs by a rocket-propelled grenade. Bernard later died during surgery.

Jacobson said this to Editor and Publisher:

To ignore a moment like that simply ... would have been wrong. I was recording his impending death, just as I had recorded his life moments before walking the point in the bazaar ... Death is a part of life and most certainly a part of war. Isn't that why we're here? To document for now and for history the events of this war?

Editor and Publisher did a quick survey of the papers that did, and did not, publish the photo.

InDenver Times, the successor to the Rocky Mountain News, did not run the photo and explains why here.

The New York Times ran the photo on its Lens blog and explains why here.

The photo can be seen here.

Animal victims of the Station fire

Dramatic shot from Gene Blevins of the LA Daily News of two horses singed in the Station Fire. A larger version is here.

One-stop shop for former Times talent

A group of former Los Angeles Times writers and editors has launched The Journalism Shop, an online freelancers' network that offers hiring editors and others a range of services, from investigative reporting to book reviews to public relations. The J-Shop has partnered with Pro Photography Network, a mirror network set up to shop the services of former LA Times photographers.

The genesis of both networks was a Yahoo newsgroup called "ex-LATers," which was formed by the laid off and bought out to exchange job tips and gossip. As part of the discussions, the former staffers contemplated the creation of a new online publication for Southern California, using the freelance networks to attract and maintain a stable of talent while they searched for financial backing.

Scott Martelle, one of the leaders of the effort, wrote wrote on his blog that about two dozen former Times writers had joined the J-Shop so far and he expects more to sign up. Leo Wolinsky, former Times associate editor, is also part of the project.

This is a closed network for now. Only Times veterans are being recruited.