Venik (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} venik4) wrote,@ 2008-08-13 12:39:00 |
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Reuters Published Fake Propaganda Photos
When people read news reports by Reuters, they expect a certain degree of objectivity and professionalism. Too often their expectations remain unfulfilled. The photos below have been floating in the blogosphere for the past few days. They depict the same individuals posing as Georgia soldiers and civilian victims of the “Russian aggression”.
Propaganda is nothing extraordinary in times of war. However, when PR spin doctor get sloppy, their own propaganda tricks turn against them. If the Georgians had to stage scenes of civilian casualties in Gori for the benefit of hapless Western journalists, what does this tell you about the actual extent of civilian casualties in the town?
Below is a Reuters photo of two Georgian soldiers carrying a wounded boy. It is interesting to note that the boy's supposedly injured right leg, “bleeding” profusely from the thigh, seems to be supporting itself. The soldier on the right also appears on many of the photos below in various capacities.
Here is the photo of this “soldier” now in civilian clothing in a different location:
Here is another Reuters shot: the guy from the previous two photos is now dressed in black. Note the “victim” laying face-down on the ground: you will see him again.
In the Reuters photo below we see the “soldier” and the “victim” from the photos above. Reuters reported that the man was grieving for his dead brother. Apparently, before succumbing to grief, he decided to take his shirt off and put on a different pair of pants:
Finally, here is some BBC footage showing the “victim” from the two photos above being carried by Georgian soldiers at an entirely different location. Apparently he is still “alive”. Click on the image to see the video.
The problem with agencies like Reuters is that they use local photographers almost exclusively with little or no background verification. In the recent years there have been many cases of Reuters photographers misrepresenting or doctoring their photos. Apparently, these highly-publicized incidents were not enough to prompt Reuters to improve its quality standards.
When people read news reports by Reuters, they expect a certain degree of objectivity and professionalism. Too often their expectations remain unfulfilled. The photos below have been floating in the blogosphere for the past few days. They depict the same individuals posing as Georgia soldiers and civilian victims of the “Russian aggression”.
Propaganda is nothing extraordinary in times of war. However, when PR spin doctor get sloppy, their own propaganda tricks turn against them. If the Georgians had to stage scenes of civilian casualties in Gori for the benefit of hapless Western journalists, what does this tell you about the actual extent of civilian casualties in the town?
Below is a Reuters photo of two Georgian soldiers carrying a wounded boy. It is interesting to note that the boy's supposedly injured right leg, “bleeding” profusely from the thigh, seems to be supporting itself. The soldier on the right also appears on many of the photos below in various capacities.
Here is the photo of this “soldier” now in civilian clothing in a different location:
Here is another Reuters shot: the guy from the previous two photos is now dressed in black. Note the “victim” laying face-down on the ground: you will see him again.
In the Reuters photo below we see the “soldier” and the “victim” from the photos above. Reuters reported that the man was grieving for his dead brother. Apparently, before succumbing to grief, he decided to take his shirt off and put on a different pair of pants:
Finally, here is some BBC footage showing the “victim” from the two photos above being carried by Georgian soldiers at an entirely different location. Apparently he is still “alive”. Click on the image to see the video.
The problem with agencies like Reuters is that they use local photographers almost exclusively with little or no background verification. In the recent years there have been many cases of Reuters photographers misrepresenting or doctoring their photos. Apparently, these highly-publicized incidents were not enough to prompt Reuters to improve its quality standards.
