Reuters Explains Photo Of Bush Bathroom Note

[Newsjock]

http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/newswire/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001137642

Don't blame the photographer.

That's the message from Gary Hershorn, a picture editor for Reuters, about the photo yesterday that shows President George W. Bush writing an all-too-human note during a UN meeting.

... Hershorn, Reuters' news editor for pictures for the Americas, says he's responsible for zooming in on the note and deciding to transmit the photo to Reuters clients. He says Wilking didn't know what the note said when he shot the picture.

"I'm so adamant that Rick has nothing to do with this. He was just the guy who pushed the button," Hershorn says.

In response to the attention the photo is getting, Reuters' spokeswoman in London released a two-sentence statement about the picture: "The photographer and editors on this story were looking for other angles in their coverage of this event, something that went beyond the stock pictures of talking heads that these kind of forums usually offer. This picture certainly does that."

lots more

[xray s]

1. what I wanna know

was it #1 or #2

[swimmernsecretsea]

3. #3

That's what he's been doing every time he has to act responsibly.

[Wabbajack]

15. Wanking?

[swimmernsecretsea]

21. Uh, yeah...

I thought that was an apt description of his years in office. Don't you? Some could say he was jerking US around, but I wouldn't go that far.

[Orsino]

31. If there was a r**ch-around involved...

I certainly didn't receive it.

[swimmernsecretsea]

32. Ick. Gotta get that picture outa my mind...

...find my happy place...find my happy place...

[Radio_Lady]

40. That link at the top of this thread -- is no longer working.

I saw the note, but would like to read their explanation.

[Javaman]

43. #4

Why was it a question?

[rodeodance]

2. yup

[despairing optimist]

4. Reuters, just explain that Bush was in danger of creating his own reality

under the table. Fair is fair. The photo is topical, humorous, newsworthy, and very popular. I bet it will win some awards too.

[Pryderi]

5. I noticed they "spun" the article by eliminating the, "?" from the text.

[Gregorian]

6. Well then, I'd love to see what pictures they didn't send.

And when Reuters has to spend time on something this important, you know the world is in very deep shit.

[swimmernsecretsea]

18. This was the only note with words...

The others had:

• a game of hangman he was playing with Condi Rice


• a very good likeness of Donald Duck


• daisies


• a bikini-clad female figure


• multiple pages of tic-tac-toe


• goofy faces with tongues sticking out

[Lindacooks]

35. LOL!

The sad thing is you're probably right.

[Piperay]

29. I agree

I think this is totally stupid so fucking what if the guy would like to take a bathroom break! :wtf: What a waste of newsprint and makes those who dislike chimp look like pathetic petty loser idiots. :mad:

[cmd]

7. What if it said something significant to our national security?

What then, Reuters?

Of course, there is little chance of anything significant coming from the twerp, but what if our security depended on it.?

[Robeson]

16. Bush isn't privy to national security issues. Others make those...

...decisions. He's just concerned about things like...going to the bathroom, falling off bikes, and choking on pretzels.

[okieinpain]

30. well that would be really great. the pres of the us writing down national

security stuff on paper in plain view of the world. man the repugs would have a field day with that. oh damn I forgot were not talking about clinton, gore, or kerry.

[Lisa]

34. If Reagan's making that "we begin bombing" joke into a live microphone

... is fair game for reporters, so is this.

As you say -- if you want to keep a secret, don't write it down on paper when you're in a roomful of people, some of whom have telephoto lenses.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Bush knew

He did it on purpose. He's like the bad kid in the back of the classroom, always having to be the wise guy. He just didn't expect anyone else except his crew to see the joke.

[lebkuchen]

12. I see typical Bush indecision--he THINKS he needs a toilet break?

He doesn't know for sure?

If he can't decide when it's potty time, how can he call a state a national disaster area with scientific data to back it up?

[ClintonTyree]

19. bush code for...........

"I'm tired, I don't want to listen to this guy any more. I need a vacation. Hey Condi, how about a humm-job in the bathroom?"

[DoYouEverWonder]

23. Maybe that's why her lips

are so ______?

[ovidsen]

20. "he THINKS he MAY need a bathroom break.

Not "I need... "

Not "I may need... "

Not "I think I need... "

No. It's "I think I may need... "

This reminds me of something his dad, 41 once said. "People say I'm indecisive. I don't know about that... "

[lebkuchen]

22. Maybe he didn't have to pee

Maybe it was a DT kind of deal--alcohol withdrawal.

[DoYouEverWonder]

24. Just like in High School

During break time the cigerette smoke would pour out from under the bathroom door and we all thought nobody knew.

[bigbrother05]

13. Of course you're right

Cause they all know he wears Depends when he's in a stressful situation. Don't ever let them see you 'sweat'.

[lebkuchen]

14. Not only that, Bush was asking Cheney permission to use the toilet

That is obvious.

[bigbrother05]

9. Has Bush finally met his Waterloo? eom

[RaulGroom]

10. Why the apologetic tone?

Is there some law against taking a silly picture of Our Great President?

[lebkuchen]

17. Because he had one too many beers before going "on stage"

[Centered]

41. I would think the tone implies

that it isn't meant to insinuate that photographers are intentionally zooming in on documents written by heads of state at the UN (ie spying.)

Just the thought that "US" photogs might do so, free press or not, might be offensive to some heads of state.

Just a thought...

[CottonBear]

11. So, the picture editor, is falling on the sword for the photographer?

I wonder if they get to keep their jobs. I don't believe that the photographer didn't know what the note said.

[The Stranger]

25. Sounds like someone needs to apologize. PAGING DICK DURBIN . . .

PAGING DICK . . . APOLOGY NEEDED . . .

[mahina]

26. This is real?

I'm sure this sounds out of touch but I really didn't know it was for real.

[zbdent]

27. I heard that it was photoshopped

it originally said "Condi, I really do need a blowjob right now . . ."

;)

[Rose Siding]

28. Here's a link. I couldn't get that one to work

Similar coverage...It also has some Hershorn quotes-

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001137788

NEW YORK With confirmation today that an accidental photo of President Bush at the United Nations on Wednesday, writing a note to Secretary of State Condeezza Rice about a “bathroom break,” was indeed real, newspapers around the U.S. and abroad are now planning to run it widely. But many, it seems, will treat it as something more than a joke.

A source at the Washington Post tells E&P that the paper is considering it for prominent play tomorrow morning, in the context that, at least in some minds, it raises questions about overall perception of the U.S. at the United Nations, right or wrong. Reuters reports extremely strong interest in the photo today.
....
“Rick had no idea what he was shooting, or what Bush was writing,” Hershorn said. “If Rick knew what he was writing we'd have 25 pictures of this, not two.”
....
There's a simple explanation, even a serious one, for all of this, he adds. Bush, he points out, is not used to attending meetings at the U.N. and probably did not know what the protocol was for exiting a room and returning. His question to Rice was “proper” and not all that surprising, “asking someone with more experience there about protocol,” he said.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001137788

[symbolman]

44. Maybe she sent him to

the Women's bathroom :)

You know those Kevlar Depends can put a lot of pressure on the bladder...

[Old Mouse]

33. I worry we're being fooled again

Controlling public attention is a deceptively complicated science. It is possible moments we believe examples of obvious crotch-specific stupidity (...the "mission accomplished" codpiece, the South American open fly...) may be in fact staged photo ops that act upon our subconscious in an instinctive fashion and further endear the President to those susceptible to such marketing techniques.

[Algorem]

36. "Maybe I need a bathroom break,Condosleaza,cuz might be a bomb

gonna go off in here like the one we're gonna be puttin' in here pretty soon huh,Condi,a-huh-a huh-huh huh huh huh!"

[rocktivity]

37. Drudge Report said that Condi wrote the first part of the note

earlier today.

Now his home page contains a link to this very story. And he tries to cover his tracks by whimpering, "Reuters has Acknowledged Bush 'Potty Note' Photo was Enhanced via Photoshop." But there's no acknowledgement or retraction of their reporting that Condi wrote the note!

:headbang:
rocknation

[PassingFair]

38. What goes PLOP schwub schwub schwub...

Answer:

Hershorn's head rolling.

[neuvocat]

39. That's ok, Reuters, you don't have to explain.

[soliddemocrat]

42. I think it's funny

Hello Everyone, If it actually is true that the reporter took a picture of Bush writing a note that he had to use the bathroom i think it was quite funny :) . So anyways, there's nothing better than embarrassing the President of the United States, especially President Bush. I hope to hear from you soon,good luck in all you do.

Signed,
Greg

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

45. a liitle payback from reuters?

for the murders of their reporters in baghdad. not that this is anywhere

near payback enough.