Reuters Admits Photo Fakery!

Reuters ^ | 8-6-06 | Reuters

[Crazieman]

PICTURE KILL FOR LBN20 TRANSMITTED AT APPROXIMATELY 1408GMT ON AUGUST 5, 2006. PHOTO EDITING SOFTWARE WAS IMPROPERLY USED ON THIS IMAGE. A CORRECTED VERSION WILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW THIS ADVISORY. PLEASE REMOVE THE IMAGE FROM YOUR SYSTEMS. WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE. REUTERS LBN20 Smoke billows from burning buildings destroyed during an overnight Israeli air raid on Beirut's suburbs August 5, 2006. Many buildings were flattened during the attack. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj (LEBANON) REUTERS NEWS PICTURES

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[ReignOfError]

I still don't think it is right. Look at the areas of lightness. Why fake lightness, unless it is a mushroom shape he was going for?

I don't know what you mean by "areas of lightness," and it's not easy to do any sophisticated photo analysis on a low-resolution, heavily compressed version of the image from Yahoo. If there were any shenanigans on the refed photo, it's subtle enough that it would take a higher-res, less-compressed version to nail down.

Sorry, but I still don't see the argument for bias or the motive here. Why risk your job to make a cloud of smoke look vaguely more mushroom shaped? I don't doubt the widespread existence of bias in the media (several different biases, actually), but some of the arguments are reminiscent of the folks looking for skull-shapes in the ice cubes in liquor ads.

[mewzilla]

Since AP, AFP, and Rooters were the media outlets allowed at Qana, maybe we should be going back and looking at a lot more photogs and their photos....

[tsmith130]

The photographer was the same one that took the pics of green helmet guy at Qana.

[paudio]

There is a difference between the two cases. In the US Army case, it was the source who did that. In this case, again, assuming you're right that it was not the photographer who did it, it was Reuters who did it. Everybody has agenda, no doubt. But Reuters declares themselves 'independent'. In this case, by adding an effect, they clearly are not.

[Uncledave]

So when/how does that "photo kill" actually get served to a news consumer?

[mewzilla]

Why risk your job to make a cloud of smoke look vaguely more mushroom shaped?

Why did Leni Riefenstahl ruin her reputation to shill for Hitler?

[TomGuy]

Which begs the question, BEFORE the internet, just how much did they show and tell us that wasn't true?

Detections were more difficult, but they did happen.

I recall National Geographic getting into trouble for altering a photo some 20 years ago. They just 'moved' a camel and rider closer to the Great Pyramid. They got skewered for it.

It has happened previously. Now, with Internet and software and expertise it is easer to do and easier to expose.

In this instance, comparing the original to the photochopped, one wonders why they bothered. The original has significant smoke floating over the city -- and that was what they wanted to show. Their altered version was ridiculous and unnecessary.

[humblegunner]

Reuters Exclusive!

Giant Eddy of Iron Maiden fame is destroying Beirut!

Women and minorities were the primary victims.

[driftdiver]

"Could the pacifier on the baby be photo-shopped???"

Odd how the pacifier is so blue and clean when everything else is covered in dust.

[omega4179]

The kid is too old to use a pacifier notice the length of the limbs.

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[mainepatsfan]

If it fits the template the media is going by they're less likely to question it's veracity.

[mewzilla]

There are none so blind...

:(

[mware]

That is why I asked the experts to check on it. It could have been physically added or photo-shopped. We need to see other photos showing this child.

[driftdiver]

"Beats me why a photographer or editor would risk his job over that"

Thats just it, they haven't risked their job. The guy was only suspended.

[mewzilla]

Good point. Plus, when you use stringers, you have no idea how many masters he/she is serving.

[PA-RIVER]

I guess next we can look forward to pics babies being bayonetted by evil jews/ Maybe mushroom clouds over hospitals? Maybe an evil jew chewing on a babies detached arm? Reuters, you can do so much better! How bout a pic of Isreal soldiers gang raping a 12 your old girl?

[R. Scott]

A lousy fake at that.

[Leisler]

Al-Reuters 5 year chart on the London Stock Ex. Down over %50. Sniff.

[TomGuy]