Re: [Leica] The Decisive Moment

["Kevin Argue" <kargue@sympatico.ca>]

Donal:
      Two instances from a local paper(daily cir 18,000) involving corporate
power. Sears bad economic results meant closing a regional store. When the
paper found out the paper had the story head office called the publisher and
threatened the paper. Story appeared after sears finally made their
statement. The other was a Remax agency. The owner demanded that the paper
publish a story on his daughter for winning a medal in skating. It had
nothing to do with that city but the ad dollars called the shots. One has to
wonder what Disney would say to 20/20 if they had a controversial story.

Kevin Argue

- ----------
>From: Donal Philby <donalphilby@earthlink.net>
>To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>Subject: Re: [Leica] The Decisive Moment
>Date: Thu, Feb 14, 2002, 12:42 AM
>

> Marc,
>
> That is like applauding physicians for just recommending whatever procedure
> pays them the most money, not what is best for the patient.  We know they do
> it and get kickbacks in various quasi-legal ways.  I guess in your
> estimation that shows they have common sense.  In mine, they have no ethics.
>
> Newspapers, before they were owned primarily by entertainment companies,
> had a sense of obligation to the greater public good.  I know that phrase
might
> have socialist overtones, but I can't think of a single instance where the
> marketplace alone has encouraged socially responsible corporate behavior,
> beyond a few token gestures, such as running a Salgado amongst all the
> celebs.  I believe it often involves more a decision not to disturb
advertisers
> rather than give readers what they want.
>
> Since I've been editing a start up trade magazine over the last six months,
> I've seen just such powers at work on a daily basis.  Always the battle
> between telling the real story that could help the reader and not offending
> someone with money who is buying advertising.
>
> Serving two masters is never easy.
>
> donal
>
> Donal Philby
> San Diego
>
> Marc wrote:
>
>
> This is a capitalist society.  I do recognize that Canadians attempt to
> avoid approaching this reality.  Most READERS and VIEWERS would much rather
> see pictures of Julia Roberts or Tom Cruise (whoever they are) than of some
> 'poor part of the world'.  The folks who OWN these publications want to
> make money, or else they'd not own them.  So, cleanly and clearly, they buy
> and publish pictures which are of interest to their audience.  If a
> photographer wants to shoot pictures of dismal areas which have no market,
> then so be it.  He is to be lauded for his dedication to Reform and damned
> for his lack of common sense.
>
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