Comments on: Mike Daisey, Truthiness, and Photojournalism

By: Paul Robertson

Paul Robertson — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:29:30 +0000

I have to agree with David Campbell ‘when is image not an alteration?’ but when you say ‘But when photojournalistic images become artistic through something other than composition and framing, we cross from truth to truthiness’ composition and framing are some of the first steps to manipulation in the process of making images. They are some excellent points made the Guardian article, some more interesting points about photojournalism are made here http://politicstheoryphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/uses-of-pieta-criticisms-of-world-press.html and here http://politicstheoryphotography.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/World%20Press%20Photo

By: Superfancy

Superfancy — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:11:52 +0000

Embarrassing as this must be for Glass, we all make mistakes — nobody died — I hope he doesn’t curl back up into the shtick that made the show famous, but instead pushes determinedly back into the terrain he had been beginning to explore- combining breaking news with entertaining long narrative. As with many photographers, radio artists can also flesh out a story to greater impact, reaching far past those squiggly letters on the page or screen. I was troubled by the scared whine in his voice, in his apology show, but have faith he will get past this problem a better and wiser man.

By: Shana Sureck

Shana Sureck — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:29:45 +0000

The 25 page NPR retraction, while long, is fascinating. Of course the show crossed the lines of truth and honesty needed to be called journalism, as opposed to the embellishment allowed in theater. But there’s another layer to this that concerns me. While Daisey messed with the facts, there is a real situation not being addressed and that’s that there are atrocious conditions in those factories, highlighted honestly in the NY Times stories, and there’s no outcry. Apple announced 100 billion dollars in cash reserves, and is giving dividends to stockholders, but what about the workers who make the iPhones and iPads that we all adore and can’t live without. Would it kill the company to share the wealth in some way? I know this is off topic, but it’s relevant to the discussion of how we, as visual storytellers, can be honest with our work AND make people care enough to do something, or at least be deeply aware of something.

By: David Campbell

David Campbell — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:55:51 +0000

Interesting thoughts and connection. You are concerned about altering an image – but when is an image not an alteration?

By: john patterson

john patterson — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:21:08 +0000

when you like to turn over things, looking for interesting stuff…..sometimes something shocking runs out. Mr Glass should have been wearing gloves.

By: YG

YG — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:12:55 +0000

Manipulating symbols is an essential trait of art, and I’d like to think that the careful hands-off public handling of the situation by Apple/foxconn, seeking to prove that they are not the kinds of corporations that sue PR problems into submission, coupled with the complete and utter detraction of the story (even if it is merited) is part of the performance.

One way of interpreting this performance is that it’s been 2 months, even if it were true nobody cares.

Written from my macbook

By: Mark Satola

Mark Satola — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:42:38 +0000

Interesting commentary, albeit long:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/mar/19/mike-daisey-this-american-life-facts?fb=native

By: JL

JL — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:29:23 +0000

Interesting comparison between photo manipulation and what Daisey has done, I’ll be thinking on that. Regarding your link, Ira Glass and This American Life pulled their original piece from their website. Until they repost it, photo shelter users cannot listen to this controversial piece, only Glass’s attempted defense of running a piece by a non-journalist that wasn’t fact checked. (I was hoping it would make great radio! But as my ten year old daughter, who could hear the voices but wasn’t following the story, said in the car, “Daddy, those men are so annoying! Turn it offfff!”)

My own two cents is that Ira Glass and TAL ought to hire journalists if they want to do journalism. I very much like their show, and NPR, when they give color to stories. WNYC, NPR and TAL are not known for fearless or groundbreaking reporting, people support them for deep reporting and for summarizing the leading liberal and intellectual sources. It is shameful that professional news outlets repeated Glass’s assertions without fact checking, unlike TAL, they do know better.

To see what it takes to produce breaking news from a liberal slant, one must learn from a pro like Amy Goodman. Not for the weak!