Extraordinary news photos of 2008

[Michael]

What did I miss in the story of Kevin Carter? It seemed as though he agreed with Wendy: If he'd given the girl something to eat after taking the picture, might he have hated himself less and maybe not killed himself?

[Eydawn]

Yes... I've known about him from before. Thanks for refreshing me, Brent! Being the messenger is important.

Being human is more important.

Wendy

CO EMT-B

[brentoli]

What did I miss in the story of Kevin Carter? It seemed as though he agreed with Wendy: If he'd given the girl something to eat after taking the picture, might he have hated himself less and maybe not killed himself?

Yes... I was just making sure she had known that story. It went hand in hand with what shes saying. These journalists are human too. Its a job though.

How is a journalist getting the shot of the year, diffrent then you looking the 16 year old taking their last breath and giving them a black tag during triage.

Sensational example? Yes.....

But it just goes to show, they are both "Just a job"

[Eydawn]

Because, unlike the journalist not encumbered by having several other patients to triage in the hopes of preserving as much life as possible, I cannot ethically stay with the 16 y/o who is an obvious black tag. The journalist, however, can take the shot of the year and then intervene... or even better, if time is critical, forego the shot in hopes of preserving a life.

It is a job. But I have never agreed with prioritizing some work of your own over human welfare. Maybe that's why I'm not a photojournalist.

Wendy

CO EMT-B

[brentoli]

I think if I was a photog.... I would AVOID learning medical skills, and other skills besides my trade. Then I wouldn't have that tempation, to lose the shot for my employer.

These shots on this slideshow..... you know they put a few months of food on these guys table.

Journalism is one of the things that made the 20th century. Look at all of the iconic photographs, where would our world be with out the dissemination of these pictures and the stories behind them.

[Dustdevil]

They insert themselves into people's intimate tragedies, pretend to be "apart from it all" in order to convey "a higher truth" but many are just arrogant and ignorant people.

They didn't insert themselves into it. They dispassionately observed it. Just the same as you do when you watch or read the news. No likee? No lookee. Take your own advice.

I'm entitled to my opinion just as much as anyone else

True. There's no law against being retarded.

I also hate the attitude of the media when they are told to move for reasons relating to patient safety or my ability to do my job... they're INVARIABLY assholes about it. So... my statement still stands.

It stands in a giant lake of bullshyte. INVARIABLY, most of the cops, medics, or firemonkeys who "told" the media (as opposed to asking) to move did so not for reasons of patient safety, but simply because YOU are being an asshole to the media because of your prejudice. Having been a journalist for many more years than you have been in EMS, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I have actually seen a member of the media actually in the way of patient safety. You absolutely have not been in EMS long enough to have actually -- with your own eyes, on your own scene -- seen it more than once. You're just spouting BS from your own unfounded prejudice.

Your unfounded prejudice is no more justified than those who believe all medics are just ghouls who get off on the suffering of others. So take a good look in the mirrors of your glass house before you go casting aspersions.

[Eydawn]

First of all, I'd be careful with calling people retarded. Just because I disagree with you doesn't make me an imbecile. Your tack on this one, however, DOES make you an asshole. Sorry.

Walking into the middle of a scene where a man has just watched his whole family die in a fire and asking him "how do you feel?" is NOT dispassionate observation, it is intrusion. Reading something in a paper and actually being there are two different things, and you're arguing from a ridiculous stance if you argue they are one and the same.

Standing over a dying child when you have a bottle of gatorade in your back pocket, waiting for the camera perfect moment that will show suffering to the rest of the world, and failing to provide assistance after capturing that moment is not only cold, but inhuman. Having to ask yourself if you will help a child is ridiculous.. yet it is a thought displayed by a woman in a non-fiction writer's book trying to TEACH other people how to BE journalists. And it was praised as high awareness of the "line"!! So you'll pardon me if I'm a little jaded.

And you have *NO IDEA* how many times I have or have not interacted with the media. I treat everyone with as much respect as possible... but you shove a camera in my face and get in my way and scream "media privilege" as I'm trying to do my job, you will piss me off! How dare you presume to know what my personal level of experience is? I have seen it at least six times... including my dealings with the Boy Scouts and care provision in that setting. I have a very founded prejudice, thank you kindly.

Keep your character aspersions to yourself. You can disagree with me all you want... but I used to think you were above name-calling like that... guess I was mistaken.

Wendy

CO EMT-B

[Dustdevil]

Walking into the middle of a scene where a man has just watched his whole family die in a fire and asking him "how do you feel?" is NOT dispassionate observation, it is intrusion. Reading something in a paper and actually being there are two different things, and you're arguing from a ridiculous stance if you argue they are one and the same.

Bullshyte. That's like arguing that you didn't kill the animal whose fur you are wearing. It's a dishonest hypocrisy that may appease your conscience, but does not change the facts.

Standing over a dying child when you have a bottle of gatorade in your back pocket, waiting for the camera perfect moment that will show suffering to the rest of the world, and failing to provide assistance after capturing that moment is not only cold, but inhuman. Having to ask yourself if you will help a child is ridiculous.

Bullshyte. It is no different from Brentoli's example of triage. You help who you can. You do not help who you cannot. Photographers (present company excluded) are neither trained nor equipped to help terminally afflicted people under medically catastrophic conditions. It wouldn't matter if they were even EMTs, they still would be unable to make a difference, just like you -- as a medically trained professional -- cannot save everyone in an MCI. Why don't you go get into the face of the cops you see standing around violent and accident scenes and not administering care if you feel so strongly about it? Do you do that? I'm betting no. Why are photojournalists held to a different standard by you? Could it be your prejudice?

And, for someone who has so much journalistic education, I'm surprised that you FAIL at distinguishing between a photographer and a reporter.

So you'll pardon me if I'm a little jaded.

You are not jaded. You are biased. You were biased long before you ever had the experience to be jaded. And that bias colours your experience, rendering you incapable of objectively analysing it, or even analysing your own feelings.

Keep your character aspersions to yourself. You can disagree with me all you want... but I used to think you were above name-calling like that... guess I was mistaken.

You insult my profession and you insult me. You started it.

[Michael]

Hi again!

You know, this happens every year at Advent: People become exceptionally touchy. The peace of every Christmas, like the peace of the first Christmas, has to be earned. The stress will pass. But be on the lookout for it in years to come.

Bye again!