there's a FEMA censorship story

[annabanana]

on Yahoo now
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050907/ts_nm/censorship_dc

[sui generis]

1. this is not a "ban" in the traditional sense

they have asked media outlets to comply, but it's voluntary. Where it's a de facto ban is in the ability to procure those photos to begin with:

/snip
But on Tuesday, FEMA refused to take reporters and photographers along on boats seeking victims in flooded areas, saying they would take up valuable space need in the recovery effort and asked them not to take pictures of the dead.

In an e-mail explaining the decision, a FEMA spokeswoman wrote: "The recovery of victims is being treated with dignity and the utmost respect and we have requested that no photographs of the deceased by made by the media."

/end snip

but it's still bullshit. Listen up journalists, you guys need to do your job and report reality, complete with photos. If you don't, then you're not a real journalist and you might as well just sit at home and make up the news, if you don't already.

Remember, the people who are asking this favor of you are responsible for the very corpses they're trying to hide. Don't be part of the cover up.

[Festivito]

2. No, no no. Request no PRINTING. More: FEMA might deny access...

...willy nilly. "Oh, that camera's too large. You cannot pass."

It's up to the journalists to decide what is appropriate, and Congress. Not some lower level government official with a chip on his shoulder.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Leave it to the Heritage Foundation....

Late in the article:

Mark Tapscott, a former editor at the Washington Times newspaper who now deals with media issues at the Heritage Foundation, said the FEMA decision did not amount to censorship.

"Let's not make a common decency issue into a censorship issue," Tapscott said. "Nobody wants to wake up in the morning and see their dead uncle on the front page. That's just common decency."

You're right Mr. Tapscott. It is about common decency. Nobody want to see their dead uncle's abandoned corpse lying on the road ignored.