Time Editor Defends Doctoring Iwo Jima Photo, Calls Objective Journalism 'Fantasy'

businessandmedia.org ^ | April 21, 2008 | Jeff Poor

[Rufus2007]

Time magazine continued to defend its manipulation of the classic Iwo Jima flag-raising photo – calling it a “point of view.” Managing Editor Richard Stengel said the cover art was part of the publication’s global warming advocacy and a way of forcing readers to “pay attention.”

Stengel defied the traditional notion that journalists should be unbiased. “I didn’t go to journalism school,” Stengel said. “But this notion that journalism is objective, or must be objective is something that has always bothered me – because the notion about objectivity is in some ways a fantasy. I don’t know that there is as such a thing as objectivity.”

Stengel supported his claim by stating the role of journalists is not to ask questions, but answer them.

“[F]rom the time I came back, I have felt that we have to actually say, ‘We have a point of view about something and we feel strongly about it, we just have to be assertive about it and say it positively,’” Stengel said. “I don’t think people are looking for us to ask questions, I think they’re looking for us to answer questions.”

[Rufus2007]

This guys is about as pompous as you can get.

[FormerACLUmember]

Time Editor Defends Doctoring Iwo Jima Photo, Calls Objective Journalism 'Fantasy'

Translation from Liberalese to English: Expecting even the slightest Objective Journalism from Time Magazine is a Fantasy.

[meyer]

".... because the notion about objectivity is in some ways a fantasy."

Translation: "We have a finincial dog in this race and we're going to shamelessly root for that dog to win."

[MarkL]

Anyone who thinks that Time magazine is "objective" needs to get their head examined. They've been doing nothing more than "current event based activism" for decades now. The best example that comes to mind, and the last issue I ever read, was their "death by gun" issue, which probably came out in the mid 1980s, or even earlier. I don't remember. But I do remember the outrage of many people, including myself, about the biased, leftist, anti-gun slant of the articles and photos. The response of the editors of Time said it all. They felt that the need for gun control was far too important to bother with "objective reporting."

Mark

[RC2]

Yep....he picked the wrong subject to run his feelings on. Whether he is right or wrong on the subject........he is wrong for using the Marines. Some bridges just don’t get crossed.

[SolidWood]

Pompous!

[avacado]

"calling it a “point of view.” Managing Editor Richard Stengel said..."

Like that wussy could ever appreciate the sacrifices of our brave Armed forces then, now, or tomorrow. Just look at this beauty parlor wussy.

And here's another Time cover shot by this lady boy...

[RightWhale]

Stengel said. “I don’t think people are looking for us to ask questions

Five Ws

[infantrywhooah]

Those scumbags committed a sacrilege but doctoring that photo. How dare they use an American iconic image, one that epitomizes the sacrifices our greatest generation made to preserve our freedom, to further their liberal assed agendas?

[ovrtaxt]

Nice lipstick, Dick!

[tennteacher]

At least he’s honest, but he’s scary- kind of a print version of professors?

[WorkingClassFilth]

Pretty, too. Wonder what shade lipstick he prefers?

[A Strict Constructionist]

“Five Ws”

WRONG,WRONG,WRONG,WRONG,WRONG! They may get the who, what, when and where right occasionally but they are always wrong on why.

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[Bigun]

They can do whatever they wish with their putrid magazine and I will continue refusing to buy it.

[Unam Sanctam]

If there is not even an attempt at objectivity, why should I believe a word Time says? Why bother reading it at all?

[Publius6961]

Time Editor Defends Doctoring Iwo Jima Photo, Calls Objective Journalism 'Fantasy'

Well, in the case of Time, that is a totally accurate statement. Unusual for them.

On the other hand, most journals and magazines managed to do a creditable job reporting during WW2.

[bannie]

"...because the notion about objectivity is in some ways a fantasy."

Isn't that equivalent to hearing a wife-beater say, "Don't pick on me: Everybody does it"?

No, you crook, everybody doesn't do it.

[Tex-Con-Man]

That guy would have to drink a 6-pack and rope a steer while watching NASCAR to work his way UP to Metro-sexual.

[pepperdog]

I do believe Time has expired.