US newspaper sorry for "fake photos"

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2004
US newspaper sorry for "fake photos"
7
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 1:17pm
I think this is awful and it shows how some get all to existed to cause more contraversy then already present. Under such troublesome times with accusations flying around left and right how could anyone be so irresponsible and careless to do this? Then as appeared below no one is going to be fired over this mistake...WTF???


US paper says sorry for 'fake' photos

Claire Cozens

Friday May 14, 2004

A US newspaper has been forced to apologise after admitting that photographs it published apparently showing US soldiers raping Iraqi women could be fake.

The Boston Globe said it had been wrong to publish the photographs, which appeared alongside a story about alleged abuses, because they "were overly graphic and the purported abuse portrayed had not been authenticated".

"There was a lapse in judgment and procedures, and we apologise for it," said the editor, Martin Baron.

The paper's stance is in stark contrast to the Daily Mirror's refusal to back down over its claims that photographs purporting to show British soldiers abusing an Iraqi prisoner were genuine.

Many critics believe that the Mirror editor, Piers Morgan, should at least apologise to readers and say he had published the photographs in good faith.

But the Boston Globe case appears to be much more clear-cut - unlike the Mirror, the Globe has admitted it knew the photographs could have been fakes when it decided to publish them.

Rival media in the US heaped criticism on the newspaper's decision to publish the photographs, which appeared during a press conference called by Boston city councillor Chuck Turner to publicise the abuse allegations that even Mr Turner admitted were unproven.

Since then the paper has admitted the pictures may have been shot in Hungary and come from a pornographic website.

The Boston Globe story, published on Wednesday, was particularly controversial because it appeared beside the news that American citizen Nicholas Berg had been beheaded by terrorists in Iraq.

The newspaper admitted today it had not known whether the photographs were authentic when it decided to publish them.

In an article published today, the Boston Globe's ombudsman, Christine Chinlund, said the paper had "erred" in publishing the photographs and blamed "miscommunication among staffers" and "a breakdown of checks and balances". "Some news outlets didn't report on the press conference because the photos were unverified -- and there was reason to doubt them - but the Globe Metro staff decided it was better to write the story, raise questions within it, and let voters judge Turner's actions," Ms Chinlund wrote.

"Emotions about Iraq were running high even before the beheading of Nicholas Berg. That the Berg story shared the May 12 paper with the inappropriate photo only made things worse," she wrote.

The Globe said no one would be fired over the mistake, but that it would review its procedures.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1216964,00.html

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2004
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 2:38pm
Of course the heading of this doesn't draw people to it since the majority of posters in here are in mission to ignore what could be any mistakes made by these accusations.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 2:56pm
Hi Britogal..I will comment on this.

It just irks me how the media is in this feeding frenzie to vilify the American soldiers. Now they have to apologize, but the damage is already done. I just don't understand why the media wants to make matters even worse for our troops by harping on this day and night. I think they are trying to lose this war just like they did for the Vietnam war and that just makes me sick.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2004
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 3:26pm
Thanks for responding...I agree it does make me sick too...it's as if the more bad press the better. UGH!
Avatar for baileyhouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 4:34pm
So you think because some pictures may POSSIBLY be fake, then ALL the accusations are false?? I guess Don made his trip for nothing...We as Americans and tax payers have a right to know where and how our money for this mess of a war is being spent...I for one want to know EVERYTHING this Admistration screws up....and YES I blame Rumsfeld and Bush for this...
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2004
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 6:05pm
I would like you to quote me in regards to saying that I thought the rest of the pictures are fake??? Please back up your accusations or re-read my post. Thanks and have a nice day!
Avatar for independentgrrrl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 10:15pm
Regarding the fake photos, I am sure someone or some people were looking to immortalize their names, get some kind of recognition, etc. etc. Their ego trip was worth printing lies thus inflaming the already volatile situtution in Iraq. The price of their lies (increased violence towards our troops) means nothing to them. As long as their bank accounts fatten up, they could care less that soldiers will have to pay with their lives for the media's blind ambition.

I think that the majority of Viet Nam vets are going through some sort of deja vu or even reliving a nightmare. To actually have to live through the liberal press's manipulation of the outcome the Iraq military operation must be truly anguishing. To witness the current soldiers' plight (similar to theirs during the Viet Nam war) must also be heartbreaking. I know my Viet Nam veteran friends despise the press and their manipulation of public opinion.

The press has played a role in ratcheting up the violence towards our soldiers. And for them to hide behind the claims that "People ought to know EVERYTHING" and AD NAUSEUM is such a slap on the faces of our soldiers. You know, they can decide that stories can be toned down if it affects the lives of persons of interest. Unfortunately, they believe that our soldiers' lives are expendible.

Avatar for baileyhouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 05-15-2004 - 8:12am
>>>Of course the heading of this doesn't draw people to it since the majority of posters in here are in mission to ignore what could be any mistakes made by these accusations.<<<<

Please explain what you mean by this statement, maybe I am misunderstanding your meaning.