AP: Just Trying to Help the Mujahideen
Charles Johnson
Fri Dec 24, 2004 at 12:25 pm PST • Views: 291
At Poynter Online, a PR person for the Associated Press explains that they’re only trying to help the insurgents “tell their stories.” (Hat tip: Ozyman.)
From JACK STOKES, director of media relations, Associated Press: [This is a solicited letter regarding Salon’s “The Associated Press ‘insurgency.’”] Several brave Iraqi photographers work for The Associated Press in places that only Iraqis can cover. Many are covering the communities they live in where family and tribal relations give them access that would not be available to Western photographers, or even Iraqi photographers who are not from the area.
Insurgents want their stories told as much as other people and some are willing to let Iraqi photographers take their pictures. It’s important to note, though, that the photographers are not “embedded” with the insurgents. They do not have to swear allegiance or otherwise join up philosophically with them just to take their pictures.
Frank says: