The problem is first, no matter what the photographer thinks of the situation, it isn't looting until someone gets convicted, which makes it libel per se.
libel per se n. broadcast or written publication of a false statement about another which accuses him/her of a crime, immoral acts, inability to perform his/her profession, having a loathsome disease (like syphilis) or dishonesty in business. Such claims are considered so obviously harmful that malice need not be proved to obtain a judgment for "general damages," and not just specific losses.
Which isn't really the point, but something he (or his editor) ought to have taken into account.
The second is that pictures say more than words. Even as illustration of a piece of text, the picture dominates. The editor ought to think about that (I did, when I was selecting photos). Choosing a black kid, and calling him a looter is a bad idea.
There will be other photos, and unless they all say everyone who has anything in their hands is looting, then the appearance of editorial decision to say blacks are looting, and whites aren't, will occur.
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Re: finding vs looting
Date: 2005-09-07 04:02 pm (UTC)The problem is first, no matter what the photographer thinks of the situation, it isn't looting until someone gets convicted, which makes it libel per se.
libel per se
n. broadcast or written publication of a false statement about another which accuses him/her of a crime, immoral acts, inability to perform his/her profession, having a loathsome disease (like syphilis) or dishonesty in business. Such claims are considered so obviously harmful that malice need not be proved to obtain a judgment for "general damages," and not just specific losses.
Which isn't really the point, but something he (or his editor) ought to have taken into account.
The second is that pictures say more than words. Even as illustration of a piece of text, the picture dominates. The editor ought to think about that (I did, when I was selecting photos). Choosing a black kid, and calling him a looter is a bad idea.
There will be other photos, and unless they all say everyone who has anything in their hands is looting, then the appearance of editorial decision to say blacks are looting, and whites aren't, will occur.
And it did.
TK