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Thursday, August 05, 2010

Reuters had 5 photographers plus stringers to cover a tree being cut

Backspin, the Honest Reporting blog, notices the amazing fact that Reuters had no fewer than five photographers and some unidentified stringers covering Tuesday's events. After examining the 25 photos that Reuters had of the incident, including graphic images, they ask:

1. How were five photographers encouraged to cover routine IDF maintenance work -- which is simply non-news? Who tipped them off, and why?

2. How did Reuters photographers get such wide, unrestricted access to the combat zone?

3. Who are the unidentified stringers? Do they, or any of the five identified photographers, have any conflicts of interest requiring disclosure, in the interests of ethical journalism? Why did Reuters break with journalistic norms and not credit seven images with the photographer's name?

4. Is it fair to say that the Lebanese source who tipped off journalists to be in the Adaisseh area of the border bears responibility for the death of Assaf Abu Rahhal?

5. Did any higher ups in the Reuters chain of command raise any questions?
Remember, these are just the photographers - Backspin isn't even counting any other Reuters journalists who might have been there.

Suzanne and others had noticed the fact that so many journalists were at the scene ahead of time, but Reuters' coverage is so over the top that it merits serious scrutiny as to whether its Lebanese journalists are also associated with the LAF - or Hezbollah.