ISSUES OF TASTE: To Portray the Horror, News Media Agonize

New York Times ^ | April 1, 2004 | BILL CARTER and JACQUES STEINBERG

[OESY]

As photographs and videotaped images of the attack on four private security workers in Falluja arrived at news organizations yesterday, editors and producers faced an immediate challenge: how to show what happened without offending viewers and readers?

Most large newspapers decided the horror of the day's events could not be fully conveyed without employing at least some of the more grisly images. But on television — where the impact of the images would arguably be more powerful — no consensus emerged.

CNN, Fox News and NBC News decided to avoid the most graphic images. "I think we can convey the horror of this despicable act while being sensitive to our viewers," said Steve Capus, the executive vice president of NBC's "Nightly News."

But CBS News and ABC News decided that some of the images were necessary to really tell the story. "CNN showed so much restraint it wasn't really covering the story," said Jim Murphy, the executive producer of the "CBS Evening News." CBS showed the most graphic images on television yesterday, including a body hanging from a bridge.

Both CBS and ABC blurred other images of bodies, and two network anchors, Dan Rather and Peter Jennings, warned viewers of what images awaited.

A CNN spokeswoman said the channel was moving toward a decision to show graphic images later in the evening, by which time the victims' next of kin would likely have been notified. Bill Shine, vice president of production for Fox News, said Fox might show more graphic images today for the same reason.

At USA Today, Brian Gallagher, the executive editor, said he and his colleagues debated over which of two images to use for today's front page: one showing bodies strung from the bridge and another of a charred body being hit with shoes.

The paper went with the shoes. "It tells the story just as well," Mr. Gallagher said, "without going so far in offending reader sensibilities."

In selecting a main image for today's front page, editors of The New York Times chose a photo of the bodies hanging from the bridge, with Iraqi faces in the foreground.

"On the one hand, you can't shy away from the news, and the news in this case is the indignities visited upon the victims and the jubilation of the crowd," said Bill Keller, the executive editor. "At the same time you have to be mindful of the pain these pictures would cause to families and the potential revulsion of readers, and children, who are exposed to this over their breakfast table."

The most grisly images were on the Internet, sometimes accompanied by viewer warnings.

On Sept. 12, 2001, many news organizations refrained from showing pictures of people jumping to their deaths from the World Trade Center. In Somalia in 1993, when the body of a slain American soldier was dragged through Mogadishu's streets by a mob, many television news divisions initially showed the images, then stopped.

Mr. Murphy of CBS said the video tapes of yesterday's attack were "three to five times worse than the Mogadishu footage was," but that showing "kids celebrating while dragging bodies through the streets" was essential to the report.

[OESY]

Apparently, the New York Times -- whose slogan is "All the News That's Fit to Print" and whose reputation is "Yesterday's News Tomorrow" because of its seven (7) layers of editors for sensitive news -- didn't agonize for long before publishing today two photographs (from AP and Reuters) described as "grisly", "most graphic" and causing "potential revulsion of readers and children, who are exposed to this over their breakfast table".

Set aside the consensus that AP, Reuters and other news organizations are being tipped off in advance so as to give the terrorists maximum publicity, thereby encouraging these horrific acts, but wasn't The New York Times the news organization that led the outrage and condemnation of the initial Bush ad that respectfully showed a fleeting image of Ground Zero?

Even the New York Post, the neo-conservative newspaper of questionable taste, refrained from publishing pictures, which says a lot about the Times and its desperation to stop hemorrhaging readership. Oh, this offense to human decency, which said to be "three to five times worse than the Mogadishu footage was" and which truly does cross the line to offend readers as well as the families of the victims should help the Times' circulation problem.

While we grieve for the families of all victims in the Iraq conflict, civilian and military, let us never forget what the Times, ABC and CBS have done. In advancing their political agendas, they have shown no decency.

[PsyOp]

Yesterday was a dark day for those fighting in Iraq. 5 Marines dead, and four civilian workers killed, mutilated, and publicly desecrated in the Iraqi city of Falluja in the "Sunni Triangle."

The pictures of that horrid incident are revolting, and most news outlets have refused to print or air them.

One exception is the San Diego Union Tribune, which graced this morning's front page with them--above the fold. This sparked an angry debate on the Rick Roberts show on KFMB this morning.

Rick's position, as well as most of his callers, condemned the UT's display of those images. As conservatives, they felt that the reason for using them was to gin up feelings against the war in Iraq. They are no doubt correct. But I differed in my feelings about those pics and decided to shoot Rick an e-mail during his show explaining why I felt as I do. To my suprise, he read my email, verbatim, during the next segment. After doing so, he said that I had given him a completely different perspective on the matter, and that he might have to rethink his position on the matter. Below is the e-mail I sent him:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Falluja pics
Date: Thu, 01 Apr 2004 08:21:20 -0800
From: [psyop]
Reply-To: ******************
To: rickroberts@kfmb.com

Dear Mr. Roberts,

I'm afraid I have to disagree about the pics. I know the UT put them there to turn opinion against the war, but it is my hope and my belief that it will do the opposite. I have a daughter serving in Iraq right now. And everytime I hear of a bomb going off over there my blood pressure goes up till I find out she is still safe.

After 9/11 the press in this country did its level best to make us forget what happened. They censored the images because they were afraid we couldn't handle it. They were afraid we'd have the proper reaction. They were afraid we'd demand a war on terrorism. On the first anniversary of 9/11 they swept it even further under the rug. They didn't want us lashing out against the Muslims. They helped spread the lie that Islam is a religion of peace, when in fact it is a death cult (I've read the Koran several times and am well versed in middle-eastern history).

Those images on the pages of the UT are important. People here need to see them and get angry. They also need to see the film footage--shown repeatedly around the world, but suppresed here--of the poor victims jumping out of the twin towers and bouncing off the roofs and streets below (not just the occasional still). People are well on their way to forgetting why were at war and what the stakes are.

The UT photos should stir up some righteous fury. I believe it will be in favor of prosecuting this war with greater vigor, even though the UT hopes it will go the other way.

Sincerely,
[psyop]
Escondido, CA

Never Forget!

[Spok]

And these pictures will run over and over to show the 'failed' policies in Iraq of GWB, while the pictures of 9/11 victims continue to be blacked out so's not to inflame Americans against terrorists.

[omega4412]

Show it all. The mutilation of bodies in Fallujah, the people jumping to their deaths on 9-11, the murder of Daniel Pearl. Remind Americans of who we are fighting and why.

[Conservababe]

Every newspaper and television should have shown the pictures as soon as possible, as they should have during the attack on the WTC. This nonsense of protecting the feelings of the victims must stop. This is an act of war, not an auto accident. I am sure that many in the movie theaters during WWII saw their loved ones on the newsreels of Pearl Harbor. But, our country needed to know the enemy we were facing, and it was done. It should be done again.

[man of Yosemite]

It is terrible for the families of the victims to see such things, however the world ought to see what horrible acts were committed there. Let them bear the shame which they so rightfully deserve. Unless the world acts against this kind of outrageous behavior, it may well spread. Let every person feel the disgust of that scene, and mark those who dance over such murderous acts. Unless the people of Iraq rise up against this barbarism, there is no hope for their nation.

[fuzzy122]

I put together some more pics of these animals!

GBGB (GOD Bless George Bush)
Fuzzy

[PsyOp]

It is terrible for the families of the victims to see such things, however the world ought to see what horrible acts were committed there.

Absolutely. IMHO, every attempt to suppress this, censor images, etc., makes those doing it accomplices to the terror at some level.

[PsyOp]

Thanks for the link. Everyone that can be identified from these photos should be hunted down, killed, and then strung up on that bridge for all to see.

As for the so-called holy places in Falluja, it's time we made and example of them. Give the imams 48 hours to hand over everyone in Falluja involved in terrorism or see every mosque in the city bulldozed flat.

[BunnySlippers]

I noticed Yahoo removed the photos.

[fuzzy122]

Here's a page (with music) to remember what was done to us. In case anyone has forgotten that this is WAR!!!

GBGB (GOD Bless George Bush)
Fuzzy

[OESY]

The Times' website still has links to both still pictures and videos with the annotation: "Note Graphic Content", though I haven't opened them to see if they work.

[fuzzy122]

I put together some pics of these animals!

GBGB (GOD Bless George Bush)
Fuzzy

[fuzzy122]

FREEEEEEDOM!

Jane's Fonda's worst nightmare:
the actual Iraqi response to American "occupation."

FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST

Thank GOD Almighty - FREE AT LAST!

[fuzzy122]

Whooo-raaah!!!

Here is a 9/11 link that I visit often...

(It takes awhile to load due to all the pictures and the music.)


Stay Strong
Fuzzy

[mcshot]

I wouldn't want to have my fifteen minutes of fame captured on film like that. I pray every darn one of them is hunted down like a dump rat.
mc

[Robert_Paulson2]

We understand their dilemma:
if the people see that we are in danger of being killed like that here, BUSH support will climb...
but they don't want to miss the opportunity that folks might just get upset enough to demand that Iraq was a mistake and that bush lied, people died... americans like us....

and demand a pullout.

quite a dilemma for them.
they wouldn't want to let this event sink their boy kerry.

[backhoe]

Thank you for saying what you did.

I haven't forgotten those "bags of blood" on the New York sidewalks and neither should any American- but they were censored by the laughingly-misnamed "watchdog press."

The sights of yesterday were indeed gruesome, but adults need to have a realistic idea of what we are facing, and more censorship has no place in this.

[PsyOp]

I wouldn't want to have my fifteen minutes of fame captured on film like that.

Nor would I. But if having my chared remains splashed accross the front page of every paper in America was required to get people off their Arses to take these matters seriously, I'd be all for it. But that's me.

I realize that many might disagree with my position. If any are offended or the families upset by having these images displayed, I am truly sorry. But I am more sorry that it is neccessary.

"Truth in itself is rarely sufficient to make men act. Hence the step is always long from cognition to volition, from knowledge to ability. The most powerful springs of action in man lie in his emotions." - Karl von Clauswitz, On War, 1832.

"The fact that slaughter is a horrifying spectacle must make us take war more seriously, but not provide an excuse for gradually blunting our swords in the name of humanity. Sooner or later someone will come along with a sharp sword and hack off our arms." - Karl von Clauswitz, On War, 1832

[OESY]

Great pix! Now, here's a sampling from Hypocrisy 101:

Walters Scolds Hughes Over Bush Ads with “Graphic” 9-11 Scenes
-- as reported by the Media Research Center, March 31, 2004

Barbara Walters on Monday night pressed Karen Hughes to have the Bush re-election campaign cease airing its ads which supposedly “contained graphic scenes of Ground Zero on 9/11.” Walters contended that “the fact is that some of the victims' families feel that the President has exploited them in this campaign.” She demanded of Hughes: “Do you think that he owes them an explanation or an apology?" When Hughes argued that “September 11th was a shared experience for our entire nation. It's not owned by anyone," Walters fired back: "That's not the point, really. The point is that should September 11th be part of a political, partisan campaign?"

Hughes responded: "I don't see how it can't. It's too important." To which Walters sputtered: “So those commercials will continue?"

MRC analyst Jessica Anderson caught the exchange during a special Monday night, March 29, 20/20 which featured a pre-taped interview to promote a new book by the close Bush advisor.

Walters: "And earlier this month, Hughes was on point when the President's reelection campaign launched its new television commercials. The spots were highly controversial, and Hughes's assignment was to publicly defend them.”
Walters to Hughes: "When the Bush campaign's TV commercials premiered this month, they contained graphic scenes of Ground Zero on 9/11, including flag-draped remains of victims. The fact is that some of the victims' families feel that the President has exploited them in this campaign. Do you think that he owes them an explanation or an apology?"
Hughes: "Well, I'm really sorry that they feel that way, but with all due respect, I just completely disagree. September 11th was a shared experience for our entire nation. It's not owned by anyone."
Walters: "That's not the point, really. The point is that should September 11th be part of a political, partisan campaign?"
Hughes: "I don't see how it can't. It's too important."
Walters: "So those commercials will continue?"
Hughes: "I believe they absolutely should, and I expect that we will continue to show tasteful images from September 11th. It's too important to ignore."

Of course, the ads hardly showed “graphic images of Ground Zero.” The Ground Zero scenes lasted barely four seconds and were simply of the framework of a destroyed wall and a distance shot of firefighters carrying out a flag-draped casket.

[GATOR NAVY]

I don't mean to sound cold, but when I look at these photos, I'm not paying much attention to the dead. They're gone and in a better place.

What I'm looking at and will remember is the animals that are laughing and smiling and cheering. They say their town is a graveyard? I wonder if they realize how easy it would be for us to make it so.

[pfflier]

Never forget the a-hole on the left in that picture. Send in the Marines to get him.

[fuzzy122]

The barbarians
in action!!!

GBGB (GOD Bless George Bush)
Fuzzy

[fuzzy122]

The barbarians
in action!!!

GBGB (GOD Bless George Bush)
Fuzzy