[Leica] Campaign solicits race of Arizona Star photographer, turns away t wo Albuquerque Journal Reporters

[s.dimitrov at charter.net (Slobodan Dimitrov)]

Not surprised at all to see such overt bigotry and hypocrisy.
But, It also happens on the other side. I've had access denied because I
wasn't an indigenous American, among others.
S. Dimitrov


> From: Kyle Cassidy <KCassidy@asc.upenn.edu>
> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
> Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2004 10:50:09 -0400
> To: "'lug@leica-users.org'" <lug@leica-users.org>
> Subject: [Leica] Campaign solicits race of Arizona Star photographer, turns
> away t wo Albuquerque Journal Reporters
> 
> 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
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