Is this photo offensive?

[MTM]

We are having a lot of debate about this in our office.
The main photo for a story about a watermelon seed-spitting contest at a county fair is of a 7-year-old black boy. The kid was not the winner. The photo has great action.
Absurd faux pas or fair event coverage?
Sorry for just the link. I couldn't figure out how to post the photo alone.

www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/07/02/news/coastal/del_mar/z41423942ada784d4882575e7007e06d6.txt

 

[DemoChristian]

If you staged it, I have a problem. Otherwise, it's a fair representation of what happened.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Lots of white guilt you've got floating around in your newsroom.

 

[MTM]

The person most offended is a younger Mexican woman.
Most of the rest of us are old white dudes and we don't have as much a problem with it as she does.

 

[Oggiedoggie]

Not offensive, but the photographer needs to give some thought to the background, depth of field and camera angle.

(Everyone's a critic.)

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

The person most offended is a younger Mexican woman.
Most of the rest of us are old white dudes and we don't have as much a problem with it as she does.

She needs to get laid.

Don't tell her this story -- one of my teammates brought a big watermelon to our game doubeheader last week. Cut it up in between innings. We all munched on it. Even gave some to the other team. Only guy who didn't want any was the ump, who was also the only black guy there. How's that for stereotypes??

 

[Batman]

If you staged it, I have a problem. Otherwise, it's a fair representation of what happened.

I agree with Demo. It's what happened. It's a decent picture. If a black person gets shot during a holdup at KFC, would you not report it because it happened at a fried chicken place?
Also, a question ... in the print edition, did you run both the picture of the black kid and the white woman? Seems like that would balance things out no matter your feelings on the issue. It'd show that there weren't just black folks there.

 

[MTM]

The boy's picture was in color on the cover of the local section and the woman's was black and white on the jump.
I see no problem with this photo at all.
If you're doing an article on black heritage and you show people eating watermelon, it's bad. In this context, it's perfectly acceptable.

 

[SF_Express]

Picture is fine, or should be.

SOMEBODY will find it offensive. But I don't think you can edit that way in this case.

 

[gutenberg]

Yes, the picture of the white gal is pretty offensive.

Appears she's savoring the taste of something sticky before swallowing.

Perhaps someone else in your newsroom can confirm whether she's using the proper technique.

In reality, sounds you folks waste a lot of time in your newsroom.

 

[mediaguy]

I think we're being overly sensitive. I don't have a problem with it.

 

[shockey]

Lots of white guilt you've got floating around in your newsroom.

precisely. we had a rule for a while in my shop that no reference in heds, caps or copy couild be made to a particular player who performed well as being one who "shined."

that's about as guilt-ridden a rule as possible, imho. it no longer exists, best i can tell.

 

[Sp0rtScribe]

I don't think the picture is offensive at all, unless, as someone said before, it was staged. But I think it's fine, and those concerned should really lighten up. Nothing was intentional, or atleast hoped not, and it was a good shot.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Unless this was the photo, I have no problem with it.

 

[fishwrapper]

What about this ad?

 

[OnTheRiver]

Not even remotely offensive.

 

[mustangj17]

No way this is offensive.

Although, how many times have we seen something incredibly offensive (Noose on the cover of the golf magazine) and wondered how the hell someone thought that was a good idea?

 

[jackfinarelli]

The photo ought not be offensive to anyone.

Having said that, someone somewhere will take offense.

 

[HejiraHenry]

Not even remotely offensive.

Glad I do not work in a newsroom where this sort of question would come up.

Swear to G-d, I thought it was gonna be the spread-eagled Serena picture from earlier in the week.

 

[lmcmillan33]

It would be offensive if you intentially did not run the best picture just because of the stereotype.