[Leica] Sunday NYT Cuba photos

[Howard Ritter]

Some of you will recall that I posted a query to LUG and MUG asking why the New York Times did not credit the photographer behind the large, full-color photo spread on Cuba in last Sunday's Times. I received several possible explanations. One of them was correct. 

In response to a suggestion, I wrote to the NYT Public Editor asking why. Today I received this very prompt and surprisingly direct and forthcoming answer to my query. The deeper explanation I can imagine is that the photographer was working at or beyond the margins of what he was or would be permitted to do by the regime and wanted to avoid persecution (if a Cuban citizen) or being barred from entering the country in the future.

—howard

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> Dear Dr. Ritter, 
> 
> Thank you for taking the time to write to us. We appreciate your concern. I shared your email with the public editor and she then spoke with a ranking International photo editor. He told her that the photographer is a freelancer, and that he requested that his name not be attributed to the photographs for this specific piece. The Times's policy is to adhere to such requests. 
> 
> I hope this helps. Please do not hesitate to write to us if you have any additional questions or concerns.
> 
> Thanks again for writing, and for reading The Times.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Evan Gershkovich
> Office of the Public Editor
> The New York Times