AP and the Death of a Marine
The AP recently released a statement in regard to the controversy surrounding their decision to publish the photo of Lance Corporal Joshua Bernard, as he lay fatally wounded in Afghanistan. Some excerpts are below...
Quote:
NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press is distributing a photo of a Marine fatally wounded in battle, choosing after a period of reflection to make public an image that conveys the grimness of war and the sacrifice of young men and women fighting it. Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard, 21, of New Portland, Maine, was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in a Taliban ambush Aug. 14 in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan.
The image shows fellow Marines helping Bernard after he suffered severe leg injuries. He was evacuated to a field hospital where he died on the operating table.
The picture was taken by Associated Press photographer Julie Jacobson, who accompanied Marines on the patrol and was in the midst of the ambush during which Bernard was wounded. She had photographed Bernard on patrol earlier, and subsequently covered the memorial service held by his fellow Marines after his death....
Journalists embedded with U.S. forces in Afghanistan must sign a statement accepting a series of rules... Critics also maintain some of the rules are aimed at sanitizing the war, minimizing the sacrifice and cruelty which were graphically depicted by images from the Civil War to Vietnam where such restrictions were not in place...
An AP reporter met with his parents, allowing them to see the images.
Bernard's father after seeing the image of his mortally wounded son said he opposed its publication, saying it was disrespectful to his son's memory. John Bernard reiterated his viewpoint in a telephone call to the AP on Wednesday.
"We understand Mr. Bernard's anguish. We believe this image is part of the history of this war. The story and photos are in themselves a respectful treatment and recognition of sacrifice," said AP senior managing editor John Daniszewski.
See the full statement here: http://www.ap.org/fallen_marine/
I for one am reassured that they "understand Mr. Bernard's anguish," though I am still trying to square that understanding with their decision to publish this photo after consulting with Mr. Bernard and after Secretary Gates begged the AP "to defer to the wishes of the family."
I have no problem with news sources publishing tons of
pictures of dead and wounded provided the faces aren't visible, names are not given until the family has been notified and the family agrees with the publication or display. If the family does not agree, then IMO they should not show the picture or clip. That, as the man said, is just common decency.
I find it fascinating that organizations that use anonymous sources and refuse to reveal them to Torquemada Fitzgerald or when threatened with jail by judges, that refuse to identify vicious hoods who are under 16 or whatever, cannot find it within themselves to heed the request of a family.
'The American people have the right to know' is one of the greatest scams of all time -- what they mean is the American people have a right to know what we want them to know even if they don't really need to know or even want to know... :mad:
Smells like politics to me... :rolleyes:
No doubt that's part of it and I was aware of their
intent and ongoing battles with others over rights -- and fees.
Of course, there is the option to delete it and wipe the disk, that way no one could publish it. I know, I know, I also dream of my Ferrari being delivered tomorrow... :wry:
