journalism

Media blooper of the year: Bolivian channel uses images from TV drama "Lost" in coverage of Air France crash

Team Observers — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:14:52 +0200

A mighty blow for Bolivian television network PAT. Last Thursday, they aired "exclusive" photos supposedly taken by a passenger of Air France flight 447 at the moment the plane crashed. In fact, the mid-air plane dismemberment photos were taken from the television series "Lost."

The Bolivian news presenter even specified that the images were found in a Casio Z750 digital camera, retrieved after the disaster.

As with many other media outlets we received these images via email last week. One can see a passenger spiralling off into the atmosphere in the second shot; in the first shot, the face is obviously that of actress Evangeline Lilly, who plays the character Kate on “Lost.” She is seen seated with an oxygen mask on her face. Another embarrassing tipoff: on the photos, it is clearly daytime, whereas the Airbus A330 crash occurred in the middle of the night.

The Bolivian network was not the only one duped. A Dutch radio station and a Polish television network also fell for it.

Saudi prince to journalists: "If you're not well-mannered enough, then let me educate you myself"

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:51:58 +0100

Sultan bin Fahd won't hear a bad word spoken about the Saudi national football team. Outraged at journalists for criticising the team on TV, the Saudi prince picked up the phone and gave them a telling-off live on TV - something that did not go down well with the Saudi web.

The sports journalists were taking part in a talk show about the Saudi team's defeat (6-5) to Oman in the Gulf Cup final on January 17. Fahd, who is currently president of the kingdom's Youth and Sports department (equivalent of sports minister), did not appreciate the commentators' tone. When phone-ins began, Fahd took it upon himself to call the show, and lecture the journalists live on TV. He finished by saying: "If you're not well-mannered enough, then let me educate you myself". The journalists, looking down at their feet, were visibly shocked. Only one of them, who's connected to the royal family, dared to talk back to the prince, who then put the phone down on him. The video has caused a stir in Saudi Arabia, where chain emails and Facebook groups are calling for the president of sport and youth to step down.

On Wednesday evening the prince was questioned over his actions by national channel al Arabiya. He explained that it was "human error", and didn't bother apologising as the journalists had hoped.

UPDATE (30 Jan. 09): the affair is still causing trouble in the kingdom. Highly influential Prince Salam, the governor of Riyadh, has joined his outraged compatriots in writing a letter to the king, asking for an end to "irresponsible behaviour" from his nephew, Prince Fahd. The letter was supposed to be private but it's already circulating the web - possibly due to a leak organised by parliament.

Images from the Saudi sports channel.

Photoshop pros in the Revolutionary Guards

Ségolène Team Observers — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:18:48 +0200

The photos of Iranian missiles released on Wednesday, July 9 made headlines around the world. But one of them, picked up by Agence France Presse (AFP), was found to be altered - most likely released by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's official press office, Sepah News.

The relations were tense this week between the West and Iran, suspected of trying to obtain nuclear arms. The Islamic Republic's recent missile tests are a new stage in its bid for power. But not all went as planned for the organisers of the nuclear trials, well-covered by the media. They then decided to embellish their powerful image.

Fox News doctors photos of critical journalists

Ségolène Team Observers — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:48:13 +0200

Fox News aired doctored photos of two New York Times journalists who criticised the channel. After commenting that the right wing news source was losing viewers, the paper's reporter Jacques Steinberg and editor Steven Reddicliffe appeared on the channel with distorted features.