Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/08/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]They should have asked if she had a Leica.... However, apparantly staffers for Vice President Cheney wanted to know the race of the photographer sent to cover a ralley by the Arizona Daily Star. http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/32301.php Access to the same ralley was denied to two Albuquerque Journal Journalists who were discovered to be registered democrats, while a third, a registered republican, was allowed to cover the event. http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/204620elex07-30-04.htm I've kept my political views to myself while photographing political events, which, I think, is the duty of all journalists. I believe my political portraits are indeed "fair and balanced". To selectively allow particular media access to events is really an attempt to distort coverage. This isn't about politics, it's about journalism, and therefore, I think relevant to this list. Real reporters and photojournalists should be above accusations of partisanship in their reporting and politicians must respect this. The role of a free press is partly to shine a light on the government, and if this is tampered with our ability to report and to be witnesses for the public is tampered with, the truth can become distorted and the free press is no longer free. I realize there is more to leica photography than news gathering, but it's an important part of this camera's history. I'm not sure if the LUG is capable of discussing access to the media without partisan barbs, I hope we can. If we can't, Brian's just going to delete this post and nobody will see it anyway..... kc