Late Friday night, the Associated Press published an article discussing the digitally altered photos of Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody that had been issued to the media by the Defense Department. The article announced that the AP will no longer use Defense-issued photographs.
The article reads:
The AP said that adjusting photos and other imagery, even for aesthetic reasons, damages the credibility of the information distributed by the military to news organizations and the public.
Santiago Lyon, the AP’s director of photography, said that the AP is “developing procedures to protect against further occurrences” and has discussed the recurring problem with the military.
The Army’s Media Relations Chief, Col. Cathy Abbott, told the AP that the Army did not violate its policy “that prohibits the cropping or editing of a photo to misrepresent the facts or change the circumstances of an event.” Abbott, though, did not know who was responsible for the changes, or which office released the photo in question.
The altered photo of Dunwoody, released on Thursday night, depicted the general in front of a super-imposed American flag backdrop, with significant airbrushing done on Dunwoody herself. Her rank, which is displayed on the front of the soldier’s tunic, is not visible.
Abbott, however, says the Army isn’t “misrepresenting her [Dunwoody]” since “the image is still clearly Gen. Dunwoody.” (Guess that silly Army photo policy really isn’t all that important.)
The original photo, according to the AP, features the general at a desk with a bookshelf and credenza behind her. Unlike in the altered photo, the markings of Dunwoody’s rank prior to her promotion on Friday – three stars for lieutenant general – are visible.
Why is this even in the news? With all the real problems in the US and the world we get stuck with this idiocy.
Posted by MrEthiopian on Mon 17 Nov 2008 at 01:48 PM
I'm shocked. Usually you can take whatever information the military hands out at face value.
Posted by Brit on Mon 17 Nov 2008 at 01:50 PM
Gee guys, thanx for the full story including the before and after photos... good reporting! NOT!
Posted by ma on Mon 17 Nov 2008 at 02:07 PM
As an Army Public Affairs Officer and professional photographer for more than 20 years, I can tell you that I have removed powerlines, autos in the distance and other minor distractions from photos to be used internally. But I have never substituted a different background or airbrushed anyone's face if I was submitting a photo for external publication. It's just not good policy. I'm certain DOD is writing public affairs guidance today reminding it's PA professionals that it is journalistically unethical to doctor photos to be used for external release
Posted by Army PAO on Mon 17 Nov 2008 at 02:14 PM
Agree, this is not news, except perhaps that it IS newsy that AP would be so silly and mean about this, like catty people with too much time! Even a general, if female, wants to look good in pictures while still remaining recognizable. Why shouldn't the pic be photoshopped to delete her prior rank, for Godsake? Let it alone, whoever at AP is behind this! Or your face could be next!
Posted by Carly Crday on Mon 17 Nov 2008 at 02:16 PM
Goodwork AP!
Just like one is not to alter any fact in a story nor should anyone be permitted to change any detail of any photo going into a news article or for public information purposes like this... Facts are Facts....Whats next? Believe me there is REAL possibilities to use computer graphics for a negative purpose! Who would like to use it for warfare?...well its already being done if you ask me.
The National Geographics policy is to fire anyone that alters a photo they have taken! Thats integrity....AP you must not let us down.
Posted by V on Mon 17 Nov 2008 at 02:43 PM
"Why is this even in the news?" Because the BushCO/CheneyINC crime organization, along with the U.S. military, has been systematically lying to the world about every important issue for eight years: illegal spying, war crime torturing, unconstitutional imprisonment, faked Iran/Iraq intelligence, 9/11, etc., etc., etc. How can you tell when BushCO/CheneyINC/GOP/U.S.Military/Corporations are lying? Easy, you can see their lips move -- That's why it's news, you dummy.
Posted by The Truth Will Out on Mon 17 Nov 2008 at 03:01 PM
God knows lots of those guys could use botox touchups and facelifts but it is the really going a bit crazy and underscores how the Defense department has become as dishonest as the Bush Administration. Trying to hide the coffins and the numbers of maimed veterans using the "disrespects the families and troops" excuse was successful in prolonging this war by duping the public in so many ways and keeping the truth of war from being reported as it deserved to be.
Shame on those who have made such decisions.
Posted by Edwin McCready on Tue 18 Nov 2008 at 08:25 PM
It is revealing to find that people do not even think this is news. How many more Vietnam/Iraq's will this country have to experience before America wakes up? The manipulation of images by the military is straight out of the Orwellian script. Unless you want to passively fall into a dystopian future, you had better welcome such stances as that of AP to not accept ANY doctored photos from the Pentagon. In this instance at least the AP editors have maintained (regained? imitated?) independence from the MIC Propaganda Machine.
Posted by manyhues on Wed 19 Nov 2008 at 04:49 PM