The below message was sent to CNN reference their use of "flattering" pictures for Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin, and unflattering pictures used for President Bush and Homeland Secretrary Chertoff for a story on their home page entitled "Leadership vacuum stymied aid."  Here is a link to the story:

http://www.cnn.com/ (cnn.com frontpage story on September 15, 2005, at approximately 6 p.m. Eastern).

Here are the pictures they used:

Notice, CNN used pictures of Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin designed to show "concern" and "empathy".  In STARK contrast, CNN used an image of a "smiling" President Bush, the inference being that President Bush "doesn't care about the trajedy" and is having a "good ole' time" as people die in New Orleans.  Secretrary Chertoff gets off just a little "better".  He is only portrayed as a "mean ogre" by the picture they chose to use.

This is PRIME example of photojourlaistic PROPAGANDA disguised as "news".  I am a professional photographer, and know full well that a "picture speaks a thousand words".   What CNN is saying by using these biased imaged of President Bush and Secretary Chertoff is clear:  "We hate George Bush, and want to exonerate Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin." 

Do they really think we're THAT stupid that we don't see what they are doing?

Below is the message sent to CNN.

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Cnn:  On your homepage today, you used a photo montage for a story entitled "Leadership vacuum stymied aid."  The photo montage was a prime example of biased photojournalism.  I am a professional photographer and instantly recognized your use of the "Reuters standard" of running visual images designed to "help" a particular political view and "damage" a particular view that you disagree with.  In your photo montage, you have 4 pictures, 1 each of President George Bush, Michael Chertoff (Director of Homland Security), Kathleeen Blanco (Governor of Louisana), and Ray Nagin (Mayor of New Orleans). 

Your pictures of Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin were given "preferential" photojournalisic treatment, with images that expressed a facial expression of "concern" and "competence".  In start -- and, I believe DELIBERATE -- contrast, the images you chose for President Bush and Director Chertoff are designed to damage those with whom you obviously disagree.

The picture of President Bush shows him "smiling" in a cavalier manner, as if to say "No biggie!  We're all having a GOOD time!".  Your picture of Director Chertoff shows an "angry", even "mean" facial expression.

This kind of photojournalism is EXPECTED from Reuters (who recently ran a close-up picture of Supreme Court nominee John Robert's eyes "bulging" out of their societs, but did not show his face -- only the "bulging eyes").  This kind of propagnadistic photojourlaism is BENEATH CNN. 

Do you REALLY think the American people don't notice when you use 2 "favorable" pictures of Democrats (with whom you obviuosly agree), but use 2 unflattering pictures of President Bush and Director Chertoff.

This is EXACTLY why the American people trusts the mainstream liberal media less and less every day.

Your example of biased photojournalsim will be highlighted on NewsBusters.org, a liberal media-watch website as an example of Joseph Goebbel's "image propaganda". 

What's NEXT CNN?  Are you going to start showing "jews" with "long noses"????