Photo Fakes
10 days ago
It seems it’s been a busy week for photo fakes but of particular interest is the inaccuracy of this image reported in The Sunday Times (UK), Newsweek and The New York Times.
I read a comprehensive analysis by Bill Mitchell, the director of Poynter Online which unravels the circumstances leading to the publication of this photograph.
Key in his analysis is the assertion that given the political backdrop of Zimbabwe, such an error in journalistic terms could have serious ramifications in undermining Western reporting and is likely to be exploited by Mugabe’s supporters. No doubt, further criticism will be levelled at the imperialist and colonial west who are seeking to undermine the ‘legitimacy’ of Mugabe and the ruling party.
The brutality and violence perpetrated by the regime is beyond doubt but incidents such as this only give credence to the paranoid rhetoric that Zanu (PF) peddle. As Mitchell says in the article, this prompts consideration of the key pillars that underpin ethical journalist decision making:
…verification of reporting from conflict zones, the challenges of working through interpreters, the seductive tug of a story’s narrative and the viral nature of news in an era of Web publishing.
I’d venture that the paucity of imagery and immediacy of modern journalism is also a driving force behind inaccuracy. Audiences are conditioned to expect news as it happens leaving little opportunity for investigative confirmation of fact.
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What a match...
20 days ago
I have to say that this afternoon’s match was the best final I think I’ve seen in the last 20 years. Truly outstanding play from two of the best players of the modern game, it’s just a shame that someone had to lose but Nadal was certainly a deserving champion.
What is the motif on Federer’s cardigan, please tell me it’s not ‘Emporio Federer’…
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