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Did CNN “Tamper” With Journalistic Record By Altering Lara Logan Photo?

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» 73 comments

During last night’s interview with Nir Rosen on Anderson Cooper 360, Cooper may have conducted an intelligent interrogation of Rosen regarding his insensitive Twitter comments, however, the controversy now bubbling up from that interview has nothing to do with Rosen or Cooper. Instead, the curious alterations made to a photo of CBSLara Logan have left some scratching their heads.

In disclosing the information related to Logan’s attack in Egypt, CBS released a photo of Logan taken before any harm was done. Most media outlets used the image, as provided from CBS, when reporting on Logan’s story. Though last night, CNN producers chose to blur the image of the faces of all the Egyptians surrounding Logan. Scott Collins of the LA Times noticed this and states “by partly obscuring the image, CNN tampered with the journalistic record without explanation, leaving it to viewers to guess whether the network intended to protect or incriminate the figures in the background.”

Given that the original picture was widely disseminated, it’s odd that CNN felt obligated to protect the already disclosed identity of the Egyptians surrounding Logan. Yet the editorial judgment here to leave out something from a picture, for whatever reasons, seems like it would be more adequately described as “baffling” than necessarily as CNN “tampering.”

UPDATE – A CNN spokesperson offers the following statement:

The photo, which CBS said was taken before the attack, was being used on our air as we reported about the sexual assault. We made a network-wide editorial decision to blur the faces of those around Logan because we didn’t know if those in the photograph were involved in the attack, or not.

Check out the unaltered picture below, along with the clip from CNN where the censored picture aired:

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  • juan

    CNN (Client Number Nine) Network – What else can you expect?

  • Olby Sucks

    Commie News Network.

  • Bobomatic

    Good thing this wasn’t Fox News… Lawrence O’Donnell’s head would have exploded.

  • http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

    juan said:
    CNN (Client Number Nine) Network – What else can you expect?

    I wish there were an equally appropriate acronym for sitting US Senator David Vitter, who was re-elected despite contracting the services of prostitutes in two different cities over an extended period of time. But then, I guess newspapers are only as good as the population’s literacy rate.

  • Olby Sucks

    Publius219 said:
    I wish there were an equally appropriate acronym for sitting US Senator David Vitter, who was re-elected despite contracting the services of prostitutes in two different cities over an extended period of time. But then, I guess newspapers are only as good as the population’s literacy rate.

    A marion barry fan I take it?

  • Color Me Badd

    Thought it was weird too, what do you expect from the Clinton News Network Tee Hee.

  • Color Me Badd

    Olby Sucks said:
    A marion barry fan I take it?

    Vitter loved wearing diapers why his prostitutes served him.

  • Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window)

    Olby says;

    A marion barry fan I take it?

    I’m going to go out on a limb and say he was probably a Ted Kennedy fan as well.

  • The Real Royal King

    Color Me Badd said:
    Vitter loved wearing diapers why his prostitutes served him.

    I can’t understand that diaper thing at all.

  • The Real Royal King

    Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window) said:
    Olby says;

    A marion barry fan I take it?

    I’m going to go out on a limb and say he was probably a Ted Kennedy fan as well.

    We should have known it all a short time before some rightist kook dishonored the deceased.

  • Color Me Badd

    Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window) said:
    Olby says;

    A marion barry fan I take it?

    I’m going to go out on a limb and say he was probably a Ted Kennedy fan as well.

    Class act.

  • writer

    You mean Mary Jo?

  • Pablo

    Olby Sucks said:
    A marion barry fan I take it?

    Certainly a changing the subject fan.

  • Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window)

    So I had to go to the doctor this morning. Besides having an ear infection, my blood pressure had skyrocketed. My doctor suggested I stear clear of Royal Dimwits, as they are probably the cause.

  • Pablo

    The Real Rabid Kook said:
    We should have known it all a short time before some rightist kook dishonored the deceased.

    Teddy dishonored Teddy, Kook. Plus, he left us his idiot spawn.

  • The Real Royal King

    I’ve noticed the blurring on faces and license plates, street names and numbers before. Is this some CNN stylebook policy?

  • notsofast

    CNN wants to protect the guilty.

  • juan

    Publius219 said:
    I wish there were an equally appropriate acronym for sitting US Senator David Vitter, who was re-elected despite contracting the services of prostitutes in two different cities over an extended period of time. But then, I guess newspapers are only as good as the population’s literacy rate.

    How about crooks Democrats Charlie Rangel, Maxine Waters, Ted Kennedy, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, etc.?

  • ImNotBlue

    The Real Royal King said:
    We should have known it all a short time before some rightist kook dishonored the deceased.

    Yup… “Raygun” would be disappointed.

    I know, I know… it’s “different,” because of your whole “double standard” thing.

  • The Real Royal King

    If you’d like a second opinion, I’d say STEER clear of certain people as well.

    I’m not at all surprised that those Slim Jims and Cheetos, with all that sodium, sent your blood pressure up. You take care of yourself, girlfriend.

  • writer

    When radical Muslims or one of the Kennedys are involved in harming women, it is politically incorrect to speak of it.

  • The Real Royal King

    juan said:
    How about crooks Democrats Charlie Rangel, Maxine Waters, Ted Kennedy, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, etc.?

    Did they all go to cathouses and frolic about in dirty diapers, too?

  • Probably NOT wrong

    The Real Royal King said:
    I can’t understand that diaper thing at all.

    You shouldn’t have any problem with that.
    Confused maybe. When people get your age they call them Depends!

  • writer

    A diaper wouldn’t have helped Mary Jo. Too much water.

  • The Real Royal King

    Color Me Badd said:
    Class act.

    If we ever have to reupholster her, I can’t imagine where we’ll find the naugahyde.

  • juan

    Bobomatic said:
    Good thing this wasn’t Fox News… Lawrence O’Donnell’s head would have exploded.

    It’s painful to try and watch the Socialist. His and Big Ed’s constant head-shots are unbearable to watch.

    All at A-MESS-NBC go to sleep ANGRY and wake up MAD!

  • writer

    The upholstery on Ted’s car was ruined.

  • The Real Royal King

    With apologies for having returned to this substance of this matter: Does anyone know what the network’s style policy is with regards to such photos?

  • Olby Sucks

    We should have known it all a short time before some rightist kook dishonored the deceased.
    ———-

    A nice dose o that progressive hypocrisy we’ve come to know and love pointing out. ;)

  • juan

    The Real Royal King said:
    Did they all go to cathouses and frolic about in dirty diapers, too?

    At least Vitter paid his taxes and had no special DEALS!

  • The Real Royal King

    juan said:
    At least Vitter paid his taxes and had no special DEALS!

    They tax prostitution or dirty diapers or both in Louisiana?

  • Hugo Daun

    juan said:
    At least Vitter paid his taxes and had no special DEALS!

    What an honorable whoremaster!

  • ImNotBlue

    Olby Sucks said:
    A nice dose o that progressive hypocrisy we’ve come to know and love pointing out. ;)

    The real problem is that he’s not even trying anymore. His hypocrisy is SO overt and obvious… and he’s far to cowardly to address it… but I kinda miss the challenge of it all.

    So predictable.

  • lazzzlo

    Ya know, I just don’t get it.

    Has CBS or Laura Logan written their story?

    Until that point has been answered, the rest is just circumspect.

    I’ve seen so many female journalist bloggers blame so many other female journalist bloggers on the concept/attitude of rape.

    I’ve seen bloggers say that “She deserved it”.

    I have always “tried” to be the same person I am on the boards as I am in real life.

    I would hope that CNN didn’t tamper with the original photo to sell their story….as much as anyone would use the incident to make a point.

  • writer

    Did the diapers end up killing a woman?

  • juan

    Hey, MEDIAITE,

    Where is the story with photos of the protestors in Wisconsin showing signs with Gov. Johnson in the cross-hairs?

    PLEASE! How many did you write about Sarah?

  • notsofast

    Oh, and King- about my saying you brought of the story of RM alledging that a Rep. Congressman had prior knowege of the OK City bombing and you said you never posted anything like that and I was a liar?

    Well son:

    The Real Royal Knig says:
    October 20, 2010 at 5:34 pm
    Thumb up 4 Thumb down 5

    Hey, where’s the report about Maddow’s claim that a republican congressman had prior knowledge to the Oklahoma City bombings and did nothing to stop it?

    That was Monday.

  • lazzzlo

    writer said:
    Did the diapers end up killing a woman?

    No.

  • ImNotBlue

    lazzzlo said:

    Anyone who says “she deserved it,” is wrong and immoral. She is the victim, and those to blame are those who did this to her.

    However, I think there is a discussion to be had about journalists putting themselves in harms way to get the story. Ms. Logan strikes me as the “do anything for the story,” type of person. And while that’s a good thing, it does seem to put her in unnecessary danger.

    I hope Ms. Logan recovers fully… but realizes that there are just sometimes when you need to put yourself first, over your career. Our desire for information, does not require her to put herself in dangerous situations.

  • lazzzlo

    notsofast said:
    The Real Royal Knig says:

    Check the source.

  • lazzzlo

    No worries, IMB.

    I agree with the salient journalist point.

  • news rat

    The question from this article’s title is obviously legitimate.

    But, since the subject here is journalism and its “record”, here’s another question, this one for Matt Schneider, author of this article. Matt, shouldn’t you be doing some journalism and perhaps ask CNN why did they do this?

  • writer

    Leaving a woman under water for eight hours before reporting it can be forgiven. But the size of ‘Brisket’ Palin’s thighs, now that’s something to be outraged over!

  • Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window)

    Oh Writer, I don’t know what I’d do without you. You provide so many LOL’s daily for me.

  • lazzzlo

    writer said:
    Leaving a woman under water for eight hours before reporting it can be forgiven. But the size of ‘Brisket’ Palin’s thighs, now that’s something to be outraged over!

    writer, I have no idea what you are talking about. I can imagine since you are using a brisket in a way that I’m not familar with.

  • writer

    lazzzlo, I would answer, but just thinking about Brisket’s thighs has me too upset.

  • TeaPartyPatriot

    This is further proof that the “Corrupt B-tards at c(lowns)n(itwits and socialist)n(attering nabobs) provide ONLY lies, distortions, half-truths, propaganda and baseless slime attacks – even on PHOTOS !

  • lazzzlo

    Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window) said:
    Oh Writer, I don’t know what I’d do without you. You provide so many LOL’s daily for me.

    2 wrongs don’t make a right. But yeah, you do get brutalized on these boards,

  • Calvin

    juan said:
    Hey, MEDIAITE, Where is the story with photos of the protestors in Wisconsin showing signs with Gov. Johnson in the cross-hairs? PLEASE! How many did you write about Sarah?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71gsnLfsbbM

  • lazzzlo

    writer said:
    lazzzlo, I would answer, but just thinking about Brisket’s thighs has me too upset.

    I used to cook, semi-professionally and brisket is never done with water added.

  • writer

    If I have ever been snippy with the King, I am unaware of it.

  • Dem4Ever

    notsofast said:
    Oh, and King- about my saying you brought of the story of RM alledging that a Rep. Congressman had prior knowege of the OK City bombing and you said you never posted anything like that and I was a liar?

    Well son:

    The Real Royal Knig says:
    October 20, 2010 at 5:34 pm
    Thumb up 4 Thumb down 5

    Hey, where’s the report about Maddow’s claim that a republican congressman had prior knowledge to the Oklahoma City bombings and did nothing to stop it?

    That was Monday.

    BUSTED!

  • lazzzlo

    news rat said:
    The question from this article’s title is obviously legitimate.

    But, since the subject here is journalism and its “record”, here’s another question, this one for Matt Schneider, author of this article. Matt, shouldn’t you be doing some journalism and perhaps ask CNN why did they do this?

    That is an excellent question.

    I like Mediate but I think they are a “vanity press”.

    They point out others failures in journalism but don’t always adhere to their own rules.

    They do have a reporter that has access to the WH press room.

  • lazzzlo

    writer said:
    If I have ever been snippy with the King, I am unaware of it.

    Ha!

  • Penguin60

    ImNotBlue said:
    Yup… “Raygun” would be disappointed. I know, I know… it’s “different,” because of your whole “double standard” thing.

    Ain’t that the truth. Do you think when he looks in the mirror and sees that blob of hypocrisy, does it bother the queen?

  • Matt Schneider

    Updated story – commenters get what commenters want! You wanted a response from CNN and here it is.

  • libra blue

    “We made a network-wide editorial decision to blur the faces of those around Logan because we didn’t know if those in the photograph were involved in the attack, or not.”

    I can understand CNN’s reasoning, however, the photo had already been released elsewhere showing the faces of the men in the crowd so the “editing” comes off as suggesting that these men are the ones who assaulted Logan. It would have been a better call to put a disclaimer under the photo.

  • The Real Royal Queen

    The Real Royal King said:
    I can’t understand that diaper thing at all.

    Well then why do you sometimes wear them and ask me to change you??

  • Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window)

    Matty, the commenters want a piece on the action in WI. Will we get that too?

  • lazzzlo

    Matt Schneider said:
    Updated story – commenters get what commenters want! You wanted a response from CNN and here it is.

    Nice update from the author of the post to “ravenous” media critics.

  • news rat

    Matt Schneider said:
    Updated story – commenters get what commenters want! You wanted a response from CNN and here it is.

    Thanks, Matt.

  • lazzzlo

    libra blue said:
    I can understand CNN’s reasoning, however, the photo had already been released elsewhere showing the faces of the men in the crowd so the “editing” comes off as suggesting that these men are the ones who assaulted Logan. It would have been a better call to put a disclaimer under the photo.

    I have never thought about something like this before…but who does own the publishing right to that image?

    Or, ethically, should it ever be published? or altered…that was just a giant f*ck*p.

  • The Real Royal King

    Matt Schneider said:
    Updated story – commenters get what commenters want! You wanted a response from CNN and here it is.

    Thanks. That’s what I expected, and the reasoning is sound.

  • The Real Royal King

    notsofast said:
    Oh, and King- about my saying you brought of the story of RM alledging that a Rep. Congressman had prior knowege of the OK City bombing and you said you never posted anything like that and I was a liar?

    Well son:

    The Real Royal Knig says:
    October 20, 2010 at 5:34 pm
    Thumb up 4 Thumb down 5

    Hey, where’s the report about Maddow’s claim that a republican congressman had prior knowledge to the Oklahoma City bombings and did nothing to stop it?

    That was Monday.

    Yes, I knew you had nothing. I hope you spent long, tedious hours digging for nothing.

  • Olby Sucks

    phony, he proved you a LIAR. ;)

  • Olby Sucks

    “I never said that!”

    by phony sock

    Really?

  • The Real Royal King

    Olby Sucks said:
    phony, he proved you a LIAR. ;)

    Olby Sucks said:
    “I never said that!”

    by phony sock

    Really?

    Ignorance and delusion make you happier than milking the horses, so I’m happy for you.

  • Olby Sucks

    How’s that search coming along? Not so good? Whatsamatta, patty cakes? Cat got your tongue? The giggles not working, today? ROFL!

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    Does this count as tempering with journalistic record:
    http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/04/fox-news-airs-doctored-photos/

  • Calvin

    Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window) said:
    Matty, the commenters want a piece on the action in WI. Will we get that too?

    It looks like WI’s Democratic senators are holed up in a hotel in Illinois:

    Paul Ryan said this morning that Madison is starting to look like Cairo, but as Larry Kudlow notes, at least the demonstrators in Tahrir Square were pro-democracy. These morons were actuallyphoning the media from their formerly undisclosed location to insist that they “were left with no choice” but to skip town, as staying would have meant … losing on a fair-and-square vote.

  • Eruptor75

    Blurring the dark faces surrounding the beautiful Lara Logan and saying it is for the protection of the possibly “innocent” men behind her is as laughable as Anderson Cooper’s heterosexuality. If those guys aren’t the ones who attacked her, I’m betting they look remarkably similar to the ones that did.

  • Gasket

    Eruptor75 said:
    Blurring the dark faces surrounding the beautiful Lara Logan and saying it is for the protection of the possibly “innocent” men behind her is as laughable as Anderson Cooper’s heterosexuality. If those guys aren’t the ones who attacked her, I’m betting they look remarkably similar to the ones that did.

    You win the award of dumbest logician.

  • Eruptor75

    Gasket said:
    You win the award of dumbest logician.

    Clever retort, How do you like this one? EAT ME

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