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NY Times photographer: "Don't trust anything you see on TV"
Media Research Center's Cyberalert ^ | November 6, 2001 | Brent Baker

Posted on 11/06/2001 9:31:38 AM PST by Mr. Mulliner

Don't trust the media, at least not CNN. Says who? A new York Times photographer in Pakistan. Catching up with an item caught last week by Jim Romenesko's MediaNews, on a Web page for sports photographers Vincent Laforet advised: "Don't trust anything you see on TV and be wary of some of the things you read." The Times photographer revealed: "We covered a pro-Taliban demonstration last week attended by maybe 5,000 protestors. CNN stated there were 50,000."

In a lengthy recounting of his travails about photographing in Pakistan, Laforet wrote:

"Speaking of the media, I have but one thing to tell you. Don't trust anything you see on TV and be weary of some of the things you read. I witnessed how sensationalistic the media can be during the Florida recount. It's even worse here. We covered a pro-Taliban demonstration last week attended by maybe 5,000 protestors. CNN stated there were 50,000. The BBC estimated 40,000. We're continually hearing of "violent clashes with police" when the TV stations report on non-violent demonstrations we covered ourselves."
To read his dispatch in full, illustrated by some of his photos, go to this address and scroll down to the second story: http://www.manginphotography.com/sptshtr36.html

Since he offered no date, it's hard to correlate his statement with what CNN actually reported that day.



TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
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To: Singapore_Yank
It goes like this. Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see. Actually I wish the Muslims would get angry and throw the Western Media out of there countries.
61 posted on 11/06/2001 3:52:17 PM PST by vladog
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To: vladog
Throw them out? When they are serving their purpose so well? Not going to happen. In fact, I just read that the first Taliban media tour went so well they want to have another one.
62 posted on 11/06/2001 3:54:19 PM PST by Mr. Mulliner
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To: Singapore_Yank
Bump!
63 posted on 11/06/2001 4:09:32 PM PST by Peacerose
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To: Bigg Red
You would think the Austrians might have noticed . . .
64 posted on 11/06/2001 4:12:19 PM PST by dread78645
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To: Singapore_Yank
Vincent Laforet is an excellent photographer and a very courageous man. I've only been in a few third world countries (unless you count New Orleans), but the pack animal attitude of the crowds is the scariest thing I've ever seen.

Photojournalists are the junk yard dogs of journalism. They go places other people are afraid to go and take photographs other people are afraid to take. The fact that this guy has the guts to be there, and to take the photographs he's taken, says a lot about him. His blatant disrespect for the power puff boys of the media and his willingness to talk about it...

You see- the press here spends their entire day lounging on lawn chairs in the garden of the Press Club. The government comes to them when they have a press release to hand out or an event they want covered. So a bunch of pro-active, aggressive journalists might as well be from Mars.

This statement alone could get him black-balled from dozens of news outlets, the ones where he makes his money. I'll grant, the guy could use a proof reader. Some of his words and spelling are off-base. All in all, though, I wish there were a lot more people like him out there. The truth might actually get printed sometimes, even if it is with a few typographical errors.

65 posted on 11/06/2001 4:16:29 PM PST by Richard Kimball
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To: Singapore_Yank
I have personaly met in NYC some American and British "journalists" who were on the way to Pakistan. They hated America with passion, and admitted to me (while under the influence of Jack Daniel), that they will do whatever they could to help the Talibans. I am not kidding. I was disgusted with them.
66 posted on 11/06/2001 4:17:06 PM PST by imperator2
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To: Richard Kimball
All in all, though, I wish there were a lot more people like him out there. The truth might actually get printed sometimes

Don't worry, Geraldo is on his way!</sarcasm>

67 posted on 11/06/2001 4:19:05 PM PST by Mr. Mulliner
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To: Sara Of Earth †
Is this just reverse propoganda or one of those old-tyme things called a truthful observation of the media by the media?

It's been so long I'm not sure if I can recognise it anymore.

68 posted on 11/06/2001 4:20:19 PM PST by martian_22
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To: martian_22
Be sure to read post #65 (and the next one, too).
69 posted on 11/06/2001 4:23:52 PM PST by Mr. Mulliner
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To: Singapore_Yank
This goes along with what my conservative Daddy told me many years ago. Don't believe anything you read or hear and only half of what you see. He wasn't even talking about TV.
70 posted on 11/06/2001 4:26:13 PM PST by Ditter
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To: Singapore_Yank
bump
71 posted on 11/06/2001 4:31:16 PM PST by VOA
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To: martian_22
Is this just reverse propoganda or one of those old-tyme things called a truthful observation of the media by the media?

This guy's the real deal. Here's the evidence.

1. It isn't in a fancy-smancy magazine, it's on a web site primarily aimed at other photographers, and people who enjoy "behind the scenes" info.
2. Those are his words. Photographers are notoriously bad spellers. Notice the woman was "whaling", not "wailing", and that he told people to be "weary", not "wary" of things you read. A good copy editor would have corrected those mistakes in a second, before allowing the story to be printed.
3. He didn't accuse the major media just of being lazy. He called them liars. "We're continually hearing of "violent clashes with police" when the TV stations report on non-violent demonstrations we covered ourselves." That's about as straight as you can call someone a liar. Betcha 50 cents THIS article never makes it into the mainstream. This is NOT a media plant.

72 posted on 11/06/2001 4:37:43 PM PST by Richard Kimball
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To: Diogenesis; Texaggie79; *Tourist_Guy_list
"And this is Tourist Guy, reporting live from Berlin. Back to you."


73 posted on 11/06/2001 4:53:53 PM PST by Come get it
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To: Diogenesis
Czeched out?
74 posted on 11/06/2001 5:01:42 PM PST by ninonitti
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To: Richard Kimball
bump
75 posted on 11/06/2001 8:41:21 PM PST by Mr. Mulliner
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To: Diogenesis
that's a classic example of projection. Those loonies at CNN's graphics team must have been confused between hisfiction and history. what a remarkable screen shot!
76 posted on 11/06/2001 8:45:45 PM PST by bonesmccoy
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To: bonesmccoy
morning in America bump
77 posted on 11/07/2001 4:45:48 AM PST by Mr. Mulliner
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To: PatriotGames
How about "urinalists?"
78 posted on 11/07/2001 5:00:35 AM PST by lightning
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To: fone
Would someone please explain to me why LYING is not a criminal offense?

Blame Jefferson. Seriously, how do you know when someone is lying or just mistaken or actually rightly going against conventional wisdowm?

79 posted on 11/07/2001 5:04:23 AM PST by Tribune7
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To: Singapore_Yank
Thank God for FreeRepublic
80 posted on 11/07/2001 5:10:03 AM PST by Tribune7
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