Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/11/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 11/26/99 12:46:14 PM, ewelch@neteze.com writes: << But you guys should do what you are doing. Because you don't really have the same protection, I suspect, that newspapers do. It would be much easier to sue, since there is a commercial angle to what you do. Or am I wrong on that point? >> My views on this topic have nothing to do with legal protection or the interest of my employer. I can only speak for myself but, speaking for myself, journalistic practices are not the supreme law in my life, nor is photography or anything connected to my work. Before anybody gets upset and thinks I'm pointing fingers, I'm not. I'm just talking about me. I have some pretty specific ideas about man, what he was put on this earth for and what the duty of man is. Nowhere in that view is the idea that you can do anything you want to your brother if it's in the interest of getting a story or a photo. When I was first starting out in photojournalism I heard someone say, "First, be a mensch." The statement expresses as well as any I've heard the idea that above everything else, we need to be a good person, to do right by each other. I think that's a pretty good rule. Again, I'm not pointing fingers at anybody. It's a personal thing. I believe what I believe about this issue. I've tried it. I've seen it work. You don't have to agree. But I would bet you one thing. If it was YOU being interviewed, you'd rather have somebody like me doing the story rather than somebody with a "Publish first and we'll sort it all out later" attitude. Bob (trying to be a mensch) McEowen