Time Magazine Photo Essay

[DanUCSB]

http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/iraq_war_families/?cnn=yes

I am deeply distrustful of the media, in general. But I found this today, and the photos are quite profound and, IMO, respectfully done. Even if their intention is to focus on war dead instead of the gains won and people helped, I think it may well backfire: the overwhelming impression I get is of sacrifice and several fine Marines doing a hard duty in an exemplary manner. Opinions?

[aricbcool]

http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/iraq_war_families/?cnn=yes

Even if their intention is to focus on war dead instead of the gains won and people helped... ...Opinions?

Yep.


With the track record that CNN has, this is nothing but shameless exploitation. They have no right to intrude like that.

I could see a spread like this coming from VFW, Stars and Stripes, even Army Times.

But frankly, the National News (including Fox) is nothing but a big ratings whore. And this is their bread and butter. Capturing tragedy in a "tasteful" and "respectful" manner.

--Aric

[Kyobanim]

Would you rather they ignored it? People die in a war and whether you like it or not, it is news. I saw no political motivation in it, just a very well done photo essay. It's important for people to understand all aspects of war. God forbid, something happen to my son I want someone like these Marines at my side. It's good to know that the fallen have an escort of honor to the end.

Those soldiers that do next of kin notification are no less brave than the soldiers on the line. Their story needs to be told. A couple months back I listened to a story on NPR about a soldier escorting a body back to his hometown. It was heartwrenching and probably the best news piece I have ever heard.

[Gypsy]

While there is no doubt that MSM manipulates and twists almost everything, personally I agree with Kyo. We must never forget the sacrifices made. God bless and give strength to those that visit the families of the Warriors who've given all with the worst news possible.

Photo number 5 truly did me in.

[Sweetbriar]

Kyo, I heard the same NPR story on a long drive to somewhere. With radio, there's no fast forward, and it was a difficult to sit thru, but very respectfully done.

The Rocky Mountain News photo essays are also excellent, and I find no fault with them.
http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/news/finalSalute/

[aricbcool]

Would you rather they ignored it?
No. But the only things I see from the press regarding Iraq are skepticism and exploitation. It's either skepticism that we'll win, that Iraq will accept democracy, that any of this will turn out. Or, it's exploitation, gaining ratings through reporting death, destruction, setbacks, and failures. Fox is a little better than the rest of them but still gets the majority of their reports from the AP, who follow the reporting standard of body count, casualties, and casualties to date.

This report is just a new offshoot of the same theme - death, loss, and grief.

People die in a war and whether you like it or not, it is news. I saw no political motivation in it, just a very well done photo essay.

Yeah they do. Yes it is. It's not about politics. It's about exploiting tragedy for ratings. It's about the "money shot".

The woman crying on the Marine's shoulder - money shot.
The woman draped over the flag draped coffin - money shot.
The woman camped out next to her husband's coffin listening to music they both liked - money shot.

It's about the pictures that will pull the most heartstrings of the reader and keep them turning the page.

I mean no disrespect to that woman or her Marine, but that's the way I saw this photo essay.

Those Marines made the ultimate sacrifice. The Marines escorting them to their final resting place have a tough job demanding a sacrifice and bravery all of its own. Their story needs to be told, true.

But TIME (yeah, I thought it was CNN) has no business digging that deep, going that far.

A couple months back I listened to a story on NPR about a soldier escorting a body back to his hometown. It was heartwrenching and probably the best news piece I have ever heard.

Was it this one? http://www.blackfive.net/main/2004/04/taking_chance.html

I thought this was a very good article as well.

And this brings up another point I'd like to make. Pictures. The power of pictures is undeniable. But pictures can also cross a line where words have a little more leeway. That's where TIME went wrong, in my opinion.

Regards,
Aric

[Spartan359]

Photo number 5 truly did me in.


Ditto

[Team Sergeant]

I've buried a few military men in my day, carried caskets, stood guard, fired weapons in salute, but I've never had to conduct a casualty notification.

Reading this and looking at the pictures all I'll say its nothing compared to the real thing.....

Time, IMO, did a good job. It didn't have a left or right slant, they just told it how it is....

TS

[CoLawman]

It should be noted that the photo essay was obtained from the Rocky Mountain News story covering Major Beck's role in this war. In my opinion the Rocky Mountain News of Colorado is the conservative paper of the Rockies as the Denver Post is muy liberal.

Major Beck is a hero and indispensable. I have made several death notifications and can assure you that I dreaded the first as much as the last. it takes a special person to comfort a stranger at such a heart wrenching moment. The military is blessed to have such a person as Major Beck.

[stone]

[QUOTE=aricbcool]No. But the only things I see from the press regarding Iraq are skepticism and exploitation. It's either skepticism that we'll win, that Iraq will accept democracy, that any of this will turn out. Or, it's exploitation, gaining ratings through reporting death, destruction, setbacks, and failures. Fox is a little better than the rest of them but still gets the majority of their reports from the AP, who follow the reporting standard of body count, casualties, and casualties to date.

This report is just a new offshoot of the same theme - death, loss, and grief.



Yeah they do. Yes it is. It's not about politics. It's about exploiting tragedy for ratings. It's about the "money shot".

The woman crying on the Marine's shoulder - money shot.
The woman draped over the flag draped coffin - money shot.
The woman camped out next to her husband's coffin listening to music they both liked - money shot.





What did Freud say-- Sometimes a snake is just a snake. I think sometimes a photo is just a photo. For sure, there are more than a few of scruzbags working in the national (and world) media who promote their personal and political agendas and have no scruples. However, I also know a guy who is a photographer in Iraq who has no political agenda, loves his country, loves his work, has enormous respect for the Soldiers he's embedded with, loves telling their stories, and endures a fair amount of risk to do just that.... He may be in the minority over there, I couldn't really say, though IMHO this particular photo essay seems to be along the same lines. I think it's a respectful portrait of the sacrifice our troops are making. Just my .02.

[Pete]

..... buried a few military men in my day, carried caskets, stood guard, fired weapons in salute, but I've never had to conduct a casualty notification.
TS


As have I.

I was detailed to conduct casualty notification one time, and only one time. I give many thanks that I never had to do it.

The other tasks are something that one gives to another. More like a "he and I" thing.

While I would have done my best if I had to notify a family of the death of a loved one I think I would feel that there was nothing I could really "do" to help them with their loss.

My hat is off to the Major and all the others would have that job. A hard job to do but one that must be done, and done well. While the death of a loved one can come at any time, with a military death the notification officer is the direct focus of "the cause" of death.

Pete

[Bravo1-3]

I've carried caskets, and I once stood guard on the casket of one of my Marines who was killed by a drunk driver. Who would have thought that I'd be proud of standing still until that 8-hour shift.

I don't envy the notification officers one bit. I can't imagine a more emotionally draining job.

[Seth]

I'll offer some commentary on the background of the photojournalist who shot the photos for the RMN's "Final Salute" project. I think without Todd Heilser, the project would not carry the same impact or perspective.

Heilser did a few rotations as an embedded photojournalist in the early phases of the war. There's story that goes around telling of the time Heilser was blown out of a Humvee by an IED. After Heilser hits the deck, two troopers come over to help. They get Heilser to his feet and start to move to him to cover -- during all this Todd's got his camera up, clicking away. Not you're average "inside the perimeter" combat photojournalist.

Heilser won a photojournalism award for a photo series detailing the rebuilding of an Iraqi school.

Heilser has been a guest speaker at the Lincoln Club of Colorado, speaking on Iraq. The Lincoln Club is a Republican party support organization.

Heilser shot numerous photos for the "Final Salute" project, giving many unpublished images to family members.

Note the respectful, yet meaningful compositions. Photos courtesy of T. Heisler and the Maynard family.

-Seth

[G]

I shed a tear when I saw these shots in TIME. I don't think there is anything political in this.

G

[Sweetbriar]

I don't know why I didn't find the accompanying articles when I viewed the slide shows. Truly outstanding.

Start here:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news/article/0,1299,DRMN_3_4224657,00.html

[SOGvet]

IMHO a well documented article - tastefully done to preserve the dignity that goes with telling a family that their son/daughter/father/mother/brother/sister isn't coming home as they expected.

As a father and as a veteran, those pictures moved me to tears.]

Lest we not forget why we're there..

[CoLawman]

Todd Heisler of the Rocky Mountain News won the Pulitzer Prize for his photos featured in this thread. Jim Sheeler, the writer of the article, also won the Pulitzer for "Final Salute"

Obviusly DanUCSB ( who started this thread) has an eye for journalistic talent.

[TFM]

The crap I see on TV every night, trash. Most of what I read in the paper, trash. This piece, however, reiterates the tragic loss of war from a compassionate angle. It was things like this that urked me to answer my call to duty. I think it shows a bit of how much service members sacrifice, how much their families sacrifice to be a part of change rather than stand by waiting for it to happen. Perception is everything.

[Monsoon65]

I thought it was very well done and didn't take any sides. I got teary seeing it all, and glad that I never had to do something like that.