READ MORE ABOUT:
THE WHNPA'S POSITION ON PHOTO RELEASES
The WHNPA is working to stop the widespread use of White House photo
handouts. Follow the ongoing discussion of this important photojournalistic issue - documents below include WHNPA President Susan Walsh's original letter to Dan Bartlet and Andy Card, a letter sent to industry leaders, the White House
Correspondents' Asssociation endorsement of our letter to Bartlett, and an update
letter sent to the WHNPA membership. Additional updates regarding the photo handouts issue will be posted here as the situation evolves.
(02-17-06) Susan Walsh's NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO interview on photo handouts
"Cheese" • When news photographers point and shoot at the White House they are casting a journalistic eye on the scene. Conversely, when the White House offers a handout photo, we see only what the White House puts in the frame. Susan Walsh is the president of the White House News Photographers Association. She searched through archives and determined that in five years of the Bush presidency there had been more than 500 photo handouts…compared with 100 over the entire eight years of the Clinton Administration. Walsh talks with Bob about her findings and the meaning of the image in making history. Tune in (MP3 or REALaudio) at http://www.onthemedia.org
(1/30/06) Photogs Slam White House Use of Staged Pictures
By Joe Strupp, editorandpublisher.com
Published: January 30, 2006 12:05 AM ET
NEW YORK-- White House photographers aren't looking for a handout these days. In fact, they've gotten far too many.
While the practice of providing news organizations with staged photos of events involving the president goes back decades, veteran shooters at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue say it has become almost a regular occurrence with the Bush Administration. A review of Associated Press archives found that during the entire eight years of the Clinton administration, only 100 handout photos of events were released to the press. During the first five years of Bush's presidency, more than 500 have been distributed. The key is that each of these events was closed to news photographers.
(READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON EDITORANDPUBLISHER.COM )
(1/22/06) FOUR NEWS AGENCIES' REFUSE TO ACCEPT photo HANDOUTS
The WHNPA believes that dealing with handout photos at the time handout restrictions are imposed is the best way to stop the trend of preventing independent press coverage of an event.
In doing so, we can prevent organizers or governments from imposing additional restrictions down the line. Ensuring our ability of the independent press to cover events of public interest should be our main priority.
We encourage and support those news orgaizations who are willing to take the initial hard decision to boycott or refuse coverage in order to secure press access in the future.
The link below references these news services' refusal to accept NBC photo handouts:
News Agencies Won't Pay for NBC's Golden Globe Photos By PAUL CHAVEZ, Associated Press Writer, Published: January 15, 2006 9:04 PM ET • LOS ANGELES (AP) Four news services, including The Associated Press, are refusing to pay a $1,200 fee imposed by NBC for photographs taken by the network inside the ballroom during the Golden Globe Awards. READ MORE at: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001844306
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NOVEMEMBER 16, 2005
LETTER FROM SUSAN WALSH, WHNPA PRESIDENT
CLICK THE LETTER OR THIS LINK TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE PDF VERSION
11/16/05
Dear WHNPA members,
Last month, I met with Press Secretary Scott McClellan and Assistant Press Secretary Josh Deckard about White House photo releases. Josh has agreed to question every time the President's schedule lists an event as "Photo Release" only. He is also responsible for trying to work the schedule to see if photographers can be allowed in. I think this is a great step in the right direction.
Our previous WHNPA letter to the White House was influential in allowing the travel pool still photographers to make photos as President Bush looked out the window of Air Force One while surveying the damage from Hurricane Katrina. My understanding is that this was the first time since 9/11 that photographers were allowed up front on Air Force One to photograph Bush.
Unfortunately, several newspapers, including the LA Times, USA Today and one local paper, used the White House handout version provided by Getty rather than using the other variety of independent images available.
In the meeting, I pointed out that with the significant numbers of White House “photo releases,” White House photographers are crossing the line from documentary photographers to White House PR photographers. During this Bush administration, more than 450 handout photos have been provided to news organizations averaging 1.8 photos per week. In comparison, the Clinton White House provided approximately 100 photo releases through two terms.
While I am encouraged that the White House is listening, it is worth noting that three days after our meeting, the White House released a photo of President Bush meeting with Bono of U2. When questioned why photographers were excluded, the White House response was that Bono’s people did not want press coverage. We now know who calls the shots on press coverage of the President. It is also disappointing to note that when this photo was published in one of our local papers, the credit on the handout photo was "Eric Draper/Associated Press." As we all know, Eric has not worked for the AP since 2001, when he left to work for President Bush.
As long as independent photojournalists are excluded from coverage of the daily activities of the President, coverage of the White House is compromised. Our credibility is further deteriorated when these handout images are published with incorrect credits. Can you imagine the controversy if reporters routinely misidentified their sources and their quotes?
If we truly want to improve coverage at the White House and maintain credibility as journalists, we must press the decisionmakers at our news organizations not to use handout photos and strongly encourage independent press coverage of the daily activities of the President.
I am asking those photojournalists who cover the White House to please help me to keep track of occasions where coverage should have been or should be open. Scott has agreed to keep open this dialog on this important issue so we must continue to press for independent coverage of President Bush.
I am please to announce that the White House Correspondents Association and the National Press Photographers Association strongly support our position on handout photos. Both organizations have promised to support our efforts to influence change throughout the industry on the use of handout photos.
Together, hopefully, we can help improve coverage, reduce the number of handout photos and increase our credibility as visual journalists.
Susan Walsh
President,
White House News Photographers Association
OCTOBER 21, 2005...
OPEN PRESS
A NEWSLETTER OF THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION
PHOTO PROTEST. You may recall the White House News Photographers Association filed a protest about the increasing use of photo releases - and the WHCA board voted to endorse it. Last week, WHNPA President Susan Walsh met with Press Secretary Scott McClellan. She reports it was a good meeting, with McClellan promising to "work the schedule" to open up more events to full photo coverage and assigning an aide (Josh Deckard) to question every event that's listed as a photo release only.
Julia Whiston
White House Correspondents' Association
1920 N Street, NW #300
Washington, DC 20036
telephone: 202-833-8000
AUGUST 15 , 2005...
A LETTER TO INDUSTRY LEADERS
 DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE PDF VERSION
White House News Photographers’ Association
Susan Walsh President, WHNPA
7119 Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044
August 15, 2005
Dear Industry Leader,
As President of the White House News Photographers Association, I am asking for your help in significantly reducing the number of “official” photo releases that are distributed and used by news organizations. This practice is significantly impacting our ability as photojournalists to independently gather and disseminated news in the visual format.
The Bush administration has made it a habit of providing official photo releases from events that could have easily accommodated press coverage. Last month, the White House scheduled five photo releases in one week. The WHNPA has informed the White House of our opposition to this policy. However, if we want to change this policy, we will all have to join forces. Please help us to keep open doors for press coverage.
As long as news organizations continue to accept these photo releases, we will continue to be excluded from events in favor of “official” photos. Governments and event organizers have every incentive in the world to encourage the distribution and use of photo releases—they have total control over their image, literally. At British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s news conference in Scotland following the July 7 attacks, coverage was official photo only. (A Financial Times photographer filled in because the official G8 photographer was unavailable.)
Photo releases are no different than press releases. Journalists are not expected to regurgitate theinformation verbatim from press releases. Why then should we allow government approved imagesto pass as legitimate news? These images are carefully scrutinized and approved by those providing them.
When the White House earlier this year tried to provide prepared video packages, the broadcast industry was in an uproar--rightfully so. However, why are we not equally upset when we are provided carefully prepared still images?
The majority of the public does not know the difference between a news photo and a photo release.Despite attempts to clearly identify photo releases in the caption, many publications simply identifythe photo by the agency that provided it. Do we really know for sure that the photos provided are accurate and not manipulated for content?Our bylines are our credibility. We should strongly discourage the acceptance and use of photo releases. If they are to be used, they should have a mandatory credit stating that they are government-approved photos. Official photo releases should be used only in the most extreme of circumstances. We must send a very loud andvery clear message: photo releases are not acceptable. I look forward to working with in an effort to address this issue.
Sincerely,
Susan Walsh
AUGUST 9, 2005 ...
8/9/05 MESSAGE FROM SUSAN WALSH TO WHNPA MEMBERS
Dear WHNPA members,
In response to the significant increase in White House photo releases, five in the last week of July alone, I sent White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Counselor to the President Dan Bartlett the attached letter.
The increase in photo releases by government agencies and organizations is getting more and more prolific. At the G8 in Scotland, the news conference with Tony Blair and the other leaders following the July 7 attacks was a photo release.
We must not allow this exclusion to continue if we want to have free, fair and independent photojournalism.
Please read this letter and help stop the use and distribution of photo releases otherwise, we may not be able to start back up this slippery slope.
As stated in the letter, the WHNPA is committed to working with top decision makers at national and international news organization to stop the use and distribution of photo releases.
Sincerely,
Susan Walsh
President, WHNPA
JULY 31, 2005...
DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE REPLICA OF THIS LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN PDF FORMAT
 July 31, 2005
Dear Mr. Bartlett,
In an effort to establish a discussion with you and the White House, I would like to bring up a very important issue for the White House News Photographers' Association. We are hopeful that you will understand and help address some of our concerns.
The WHNPA is troubled by the increasing number of photo releases from events involving the President of the United States. Each day, WHNPA members stand ready to document the important work of the President, his Cabinet and Congress. Limiting ouraccess to these events is a disservice to the public here in Washington and round the world. WHNPA members, both still and video, bring their unique vision, skill and journalistic ethic to every assignment. However, we are quickly losing our ability to independently gather the news, especially at the White House.
At the WHNPA dinner, President Bush said, "One photo may not tell us the entire truth, but it gives us a piece of the truth. One photo may not provide a complete history, but it gives us a glimpse of history and that's important work." Our mission statement declares, "The WHNPA strongly believes in the public's natural and legal right to freedom in searching for the truth and the right to be accurately and completely informed about the world inwhich we live." However, a White House photo release, no matter how accurate the image, provides only one perspective--one that is carefully screened and approved.
Therefore, the WHNPA plans to initiate discussions with top decision makers at national and international news organizations regarding this matter. We will strongly encourage these new organizations to significantly limit their use and distribution of these photo releases.
The free press provides the public with a broad range of views and perspectives documenting the significant work of the President of the United States. WHNPA members, since our inception in 1921, have been and continue to , "The Eyes of History." The public deserves that these eyes remain wide open. We appreciate the opportunity to discuss with you this very important issue. I look forward to speaking with you in the near future. Please feel free to contact me at [#] or at the above address.
Respectfully,
Susan Walsh
President, WHNPA
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