Comments on: Interview with Marco Vernaschi Retracted

By: John Wong

John Wong — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:59:56 +0000

To Mr Marco Vernaschi (& Jon Sawyer of the Pulitzer Center): Somehow your photography lacks the veracity I equate with true photo journalism, not to mention the stilted captions (facts?) that go with them. Your technique, artistic or creative treatment detracts from the issue rather than to engage your audience with the raw, unadorned truth. I quote an artist I knew who wrote: “The more the technique, the more terrible the fettering.” No amount of technique or staging (modeling & props) will ever replace the instinctive, empathetic eye and engaged heart of a true photo journalist who spontaneously shutters his camera at the often providential, crucial place and moment. Your photography and methods of acquiring them would probably be more suited to commercial purposes like advertising rather than to addressing humanistic issues.
Of course, my perception of your photography and your merit as a photo journalist may be biased since you had the body of a murdered 10 year old girl, Margaret Babirye Nankya, dug up just so you could photograph her mutilated body. Some may laud your technique or artistic flair but I certainly found your methods / staging in this case utterly repulsive, not to mention that your version and revision of “facts” on the case was questionable.
Rather than all that back tracking, lame rationalized “apology” and attempts to justify or exonerate, it would do well to come clean with humility and face the consequences. That would perhaps be more conducive to finding forgiveness. Finally, I am utterly astonished that the Pulitzer Center continues to endorse your work and attempt to mitigate the fallout by bolstering your story.

By: John Wong

John Wong — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:59:03 +0000

Anne, thank you for your unequivocal statements that I am certain speak for many others who value integrity. Mr Vernaschi’s explanations and statements by the Pulitzer Center were hypocritical, self incriminating double talk that amount to admissions that ethical and legal considerations were an afterthought. What constitutes the Pulitzer’s “editorial guidance” and “highest editorial standards” when a mutilated corpse is dug up for pictures and they continue to endorse the project? The rationale that “photography can play a powerful role in mobilizing public opinion” (to stop child sacrifices) certainly doesn’t justify the means. The entire affair smacks of self-interests, sensationalism, exploitation of the family’s despair and poverty, leveraging the “power of the press” and institutional influence to escape prosecution and sidestep accountability. All of this thinly disguised as “journalism for a cause”. Yes, the issue of child sacrifice is deadly serious and so is this instance of blatant manipulation to the point of illegal, unprofessional & callous behavior. Ultimately, this does not serve the cause the parties declare to advocate.

By: al.lupo

al.lupo — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:21:18 +0000

Anne, very well written piece of journalism. i agree with you on so many points. keep up the good work.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:05:28 +0000

Thanks for sharing that info, Jorn. After seeing the pix of the World Press Photo, and myself after worked in Guinea Bissau, I really believe the execution picture was staged… Marco, you are talented enough, be patient and professional and don’t try to be too quick… cheating is not the way…

By: Jørn Stjerneklar

Jørn Stjerneklar — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:16:50 +0000

Please read our latest blog about the ethics in general news stories. It raises some interesting questions regarding Marco Vernaschi´s winning pictures in WPP from Guinea-Bissau. See: http://www.maydaypress.com/blog/page9_files/024fe1f5a1638b898aee32fcbb1aa95d-1.html

By: Marco Vernaschi

Marco Vernaschi — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:14:00 +0000

Please see my statement on Untold Stories regarding this matter, which includes a new statement from the Pulitzer Center and links to video interviews with the mother of Margaret Babirye Nankya and Richard Omongole, a Ugandan lawyer and former country director for Amnesty International.

http://untoldstories.pulitzercenter.org/2010/04/uganda-response-to-critics.html

Interviews:

http://untoldstories.pulitzercenter.org/2010/04/uganda-a-lawyers-brief-a-mothers-grief.html

By: Kim Haughton

Kim Haughton — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:50:14 +0000

hey Anne, as said by Benjamin above, well done on writing such an honest and heartfelt account of this whole debacle and you should be commended for taking all the time you did to investigate it further.. and for finding the truth..
talk soon
Kim x

By: allan booth

allan booth — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:23:27 +0000

hello Anne.
Just a quick thank you for your article.Informative to say the least well done.
i concur with M A bordas.

By: Hey Buddy, Hold That Execution While My Memord Card Reformats Or How Far Do You Have To Go To A Story « The Spinning Head

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:51:24 +0000

[...] been concocted and paid for. Anne Holmes retracted an interview with the said Mr. Vernaschi and has posted a detailed account of the outcomes of her asking some further questions about Mr. Vernaschi’s story on the killing and exhumation of the child. As we speak, it seems [...]

By: Marie Ange Bordas

Marie Ange Bordas — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:22:04 +0000

Hello Anne,

tks for taking the time to write this and Bravo for your reaction.
the Pulitzer letter really disturbed me. I wonder which photojournalist would ask an Italian family to exhume a body for a pic… the discussion here is broader than “the ethics of journalists”… it takes us once again to how western media still perceive and treat “Third world” subjects.
regards,
Marie

By: Armando Ribeiro

Armando Ribeiro — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:36:31 +0000

As I said in a previous forum, Marco Vernaschis abilities as a photographer are not being question but is credibility as a journalist takes a huge blow with this story.
It is very difficult to not get carried away when we are to deep covering an issue such is this, that clearly deserves to be reported, but one must keep his/her humanity above it all…

Thanks for the clear, precise and impartial description of the events connected with this story.

Many cheers,

Armando

By: Benjamin Chesterton

Benjamin Chesterton — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:17:05 +0000

Dear Anne,

there is no need to apologise. Sadly, this is brilliant piece of investigative journalism. I’m speechless … no wonder you were in shock.

How the Pulitzer can back this project now I have no idea.

You wrote a brave and heartfelt piece.

Thank you for having the integrity that others have lacked.