LA Times dismisses photographer in Iraq

Interesting -- and unfortunate -- situation at the LA Times, where a staff photographer in Iraq used digital technology to combine two images, taken seconds apart, to produce a more compelling image, but one that slightly distorted reality.

I'm afraid I agree with the Times' higher-ups on this call: Altering reality is not a prerogative of photojournalists, even if it makes for a better photo.

Kudos to the LA Times for disclosing the specifics of what happened here.

Later: There's a heated discussion of this topic on Poynter's online-news list, the most activity that list has seen in months.

'I'm dropping out of the war'

Sheila: I'm dropping out of the war. I don't want war in my living room any more. I don't want to give it my attention. I can't stop it, can't change it, won't fight it. All I can do is live as peacefully as I can, without sucking in its virtual fumes.

Johanssen vs. MPAA round 2

AfterDawn.com: A Norwegian appeals court today agreed to hear the prosection's appeal in the DMCA case against teenager Jon Johanssen.

Thin skins at Fox News

From the Washington Post's Howie Kurtz (bottom of story):

When antiwar demonstrators gathered outside the Fox News building in Manhattan, the network's outdoor news zipper replaced its headlines with taunts:

"War protester auditions here today. . . . Thanks for coming!" And: "How do you keep a war protester in suspense? Ignore them." And: "Attention protesters: The Michael Moore Fan Club meets Thursday at a phone booth at Sixth Avenue and 50th Street."

Unfair and unbalanced? "I thought I'd have some fun with it," says Fox zipper-writer Marvin Himelfarb, a former Hollywood screenwriter. "I couldn't resist."

Sure, it's funny (especially the Moore barb), but it's also an unprofessional stunt that demonstrates again Fox News' right-wing slant (as if we needed any reminding).

Thanks to IWantMedia for the pointer.

Missing journalists safe in Jordan

ABCNews.com: Journalists missing in Iraq found safe in Jordan.

By the way, I've been using Britain's News Now over the past few months whenever I need a pointer to breaking news. It searches more than 7,000 global news sources and posts updates every five minutes (as I note on my Toolbox page).

SARS in San Jose

Breaking news: Four passengers suspected of having contracted SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) are being held in an American Airlines jet in San Jose after their flight from Toyko. That's a half hour south of my house.

The mystery virus, just identified about two weeks ago, is responsible for more than 60 deaths worldwide.