Go read this and this if you have not already. My thoughts are as follows, as taken from various comments and exchanges made today:
FWIIW, I think that what she did was reprehensible on many levels and a complete abrogation of her duties as a journalist. She apparently wanted to make people “think” about the war (i.e. oppose it), which violates the canons of journalism about being impartial and fair. It was also a violation of the embed agreement I also believe. She did this not for journalistic reasons, but for political ones and for self-gain (IMO). She’s angling for a Pulitzer and other awards, and will wear her “martyrdom” for what is about to descend upon her from the military, milblogs, and anyone with basic common decency, and use that martyrdom for yet more personal gain.
Yes, military photographers do, can, and have taken similar photos. Some from WWII are only now being released as I understand it. They do document, but they do so in a way that is respectful, careful of privacy (and even HIPPA issues these days), and careful of the wishes and feelings of those being photographed.
My personal take is that I have no problem with the shot being taken, but in its use and it’s use against the specific wishes of the family. If she truly wanted to document, she would not have published now but waited as many good and respectable photojournalists (see many in WWII and even into Vietnam) have done.
I think it’s time for an “Army of Davids” approach to the problem. If the AP thinks this is so grand, then let’s start photographing them. Them doing what they do, for that is history too, and deserves to be documented in full, right? After all, the are such an important part of history, with an awesome responsibility, with which comes power, and power must be watched and recorded for posterity. Let’s document that, from wake to sleep, life to death, every aspect, and run them on the web. Every good job, every bad job, every nooner, every trip, comments they make as asides in public, every moment as they are sick, drunk, sober, or dying. Hey the public has a right to know and must know all aspects. Let’s see how they like it when its them and theirs done like this, and let’s be sure to start with Julie Jacobson and Thomas Curley, but if you happen to get someone lower and document them for posterity, that’s fine too.
