Photog Flies Flag

[Goon]

I'm sure this will start a long healthy civil debate.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/staticarticles/article55481.html

[Flaca Productions]

WND Exclusive MEDIA MATTERS
NBC cameraman flies Mexican flag at march
Videographer for Houston affiliate sparks angry response from locals

Posted: May 1, 2007
5:00 p.m. Eastern

By Art Moore
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

A cameraman for the NBC affiliate in Houston was captured on home video sporting a Mexican flag on his camera while covering a rally in the Texas city that supported illegal immigrants, drawing angry shouts from counter-protesters.

In the first of two clips posted on YouTube.com, a counter-protester with a bull horn can be heard condemning the cameraman's flag.

"Why does Channel 2 News have a Mexican flag on their camera?" the man asked.

Houston's NBC station is KPRC.

KPRC News Director Skip Valet told WND the cameraman's flying of the Mexican flag broke station rules.

"It violates our policy, because we're always objective observers of these situations," Valet told WND. "We don't take sides in news stories; we cover them. That policy was clearly violated."

The cameraman has been disciplined, Valet said, but he could not disclose details, because it's a personnel matter.

Valet said the employee has been with the station for about five years. He went to cover the event by himself, the news director said, with the exception of an intern.

The second YouTube clip shows a woman, after considerable protest of the cameraman, mounting an American flag alongside the Mexican banner on the camera. The cameraman helps the woman secure the U.S. flag in place.

A female voice from among the counter-demonstrators then is heard shouting angrily into a bullhorn.

"We are going to let Americans across the country know what you have done today. You are a disgrace, you need to be shut down. … "

The confrontation took place Saturday as hundreds of people marched to Houston's Mason Park for a rally in support of illegal immigrants. The Houston Chronicle reported the marchers blew whistles, banged on drums and chanted through loudspeakers as they carried U.S. and Mexican flags. Banners included one that said: "Amor sin la frontera: Love has no borders."

The paper said the counter-demonstrators were representatives of the group U.S. Border Watch, who stood across the street and waved American flags, chanting back at the marchers.

Curtis Collier, president of U.S. Border Watch, told the Chronicle his group is working every day to "save the sovereignty of this nation."

He believes more Americans are aware now of the issue of illegal immigration.

"I do think the American people are now aware of the problems – illegal immigration is putting a strain our on schools, our social services system and our justice system," Collier said.

[Rack Focus]

What a dumbass.

[cameradog]

Say, don't we have a regular poster from KPRC on the board? It wasn't Wally, was it?

[Freddie Mercury]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEqV5zaVCbY&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJu9dX--K1w&NR=1

Enjoy.

[SEPhotog]

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[Freddie Mercury]

If he put that flag there or knew it was there, he was wrong. End of discussion. I don't care if he was born there or how passionately he feels about the issue. If he can't be an objective observer, then he is no more a journalist than those who videotaped him and posted it on YouTube.

[American lost in Canada]

Although putting the flag on his camera was not the brightest thing to do, listening to the ignorance of the protesters with the bullhorns made me want to put one on my camera.

During the lead up to the Iraq war here in Canada (you know the one, the one Bush lied about), as an American here in Canada there were protests all over the place. Some of which where there were Flags burned. Had I been sent to one of these I would have been hard pressed not to take a side and stop them from burning my flag. Obviously this guy is of Mexican decent and he made a bad decision on the spot to put the flag on his camera.

Up here in Canada most guys I know have Canadian flags on their cameras. Not a full flag like that one, but a sticker.

The question I pose is if he had a US flag on his camera, a sticker, would there be an issue that he was taking the side of the protesters. I think there would not. I do not think it is wrong to be proud of who you are, but he did take it too far.

I used to have a US flag hanging over the rear view in my truck, until the dick ND, who did not like me (because I was pro union), told me to take it down. He did not tell the guy with the Canada flag to take his down(not pro union).

One more thing, does he usually have that flag on every other day, or did he put in on just for this protest?

[BluesDaddy]

All I can say is, NO STICKS? He even had an intern to tote 'em. Dang.

[photogtony]

Part of our percieved creditiblity is the abilty to stay neutral in situations. Even if we hold an opinion in out heads we have to refrain from voicing them and certainly from demonstrating. I can't think of any media outlet that doesn't have a policy making this against the rules. My question is where is the line between displaying national pride and supporting one side of a cause over another? I guess you have to look at each assignment and ask yourself "is anything I'm displaying or doing going to reflect badly on my station?"

[Brock Samson]

Oh great. As if people need another reason to think we are taking sides when we try to report fairly. Way to go, slick.

[Frank McBride]

Although putting the flag on his camera was not the brightest thing to do, listening to the ignorance of the protesters with the bullhorns made me want to put one on my camera.

During the lead up to the Iraq war here in Canada (you know the one, the one Bush lied about), as an American here in Canada there were protests all over the place. Some of which where there were Flags burned. Had I been sent to one of these I would have been hard pressed not to take a side and stop them from burning my flag. Obviously this guy is of Mexican decent and he made a bad decision on the spot to put the flag on his camera.

Up here in Canada most guys I know have Canadian flags on their cameras. Not a full flag like that one, but a sticker.

The question I pose is if he had a US flag on his camera, a sticker, would there be an issue that he was taking the side of the protesters. I think there would not. I do not think it is wrong to be proud of who you are, but he did take it too far.

I used to have a US flag hanging over the rear view in my truck, until the dick ND, who did not like me (because I was pro union), told me to take it down. He did not tell the guy with the Canada flag to take his down(not pro union).

One more thing, does he usually have that flag on every other day, or did he put in on just for this protest?

I know the photographer in question, and I don't want to go convicting him. I will say that I have never seen that flag on his camera before.

Your question about the US flag sticker is apples and oranges mostly because you specified sticker, which when you see it you would assume it is always there and isn't a statement for the current context.

Now, would you really step in and stop a flag burning? Why? It seems to me that you serve a much better purpose in documenting the burning and those doing it.

FMc

[American lost in Canada]

At that time it was right after 911 and I was a bit upset and felt strongly that burning my flag was not the solution. I have always been a free speech proponent even if you feel the need to burn the flag but at that time I was not in the mental state of that. I think most of us as Americans at that time were not to cool to anyone badmouthing the US.

I see that it would be wrong now, but at the time, not so much. It did not happen.

[sneakybastard]

All I can say is, NO STICKS? He even had an intern to tote 'em. Dang.

Very typical of KPRC.....very little is ever shot with the sticks.

[Stoney]

Not very bright as a representative of his station. The protesters were making hay out of it, though. I am sure it will show up on O'Reilly soon enough.

How about this? I had a Gonzaga basketball sign in my news truck while in Phoenix. Some woman in sales told the chief that it was not ok and that I needed to remove it. He told her to get bent! The sign stayed! Go Bulldogs.

[Land Rover]

I wonder what the intern thought of all of this.

[Wideangle]

I'm sure this will start a long healthy civil debate.

Debate? There's nothing to debate on this one. As a photo-journalist, you are there to take pictures, not sides. This guy crossed over the line from observation to participation.

[pre-set]

I watched 'em both and saw no redeeming qualities on that dude's behalf whatsoever.

It was a dumbasss move, and probably indicates a larger overall state of general cluelessness and disregard for public perception of his station. In short, he's probably an idiot if he can't figure things like this out on his own.


The part we should keep in mind from watching that is that we're not the only ones with cameras and a forum to show what we capture, now...

[Land Rover]

I watched 'em both and saw no redeeming qualities on that dude's behalf whatsoever.

Look at his face when the people are yelling at him. It looks like he's trying to hide a smile and was getting enjoyment out of making his statement.

[Latin Lens]

I think this is a tough one.......as a photojournalist I can see how having the flag there can be seen as unethical. Yes, we are silent observers.....only there to capture the moments not choose sides.

However....as a latin person in journalism....I can see how it would be a pride issue......to show how proud I am as a free citizen to show who I am and where I come from...and honor it. I can not turn my "brown" off. Its always there...whether I fly a flag or not.

Now I know what everybody is going to say.....but its the same as when you show up to a breast cancer event and they give you the pink pin or ribbon and you sport it on yourself or your camera. Before you cast a stone.....be wary of what you do...when its something that MEANS something to you.

According to the "rules" we are not to clap or show preference one way or the other......but we all know its not black and white in the world......there's alot of gray.

If he violated company policy then he should be disclipined but I won't apologize for being Brown and Proud.

[Latin Lens]

And please don't misconstrue that I would do as this particular phtog....because I wouldn't....but I can symphanize why he did it.

[Latin Lens]

Join in on this debate over in the Uncensored section under CIVIL DEBATE if you want.

[Rack Focus]

This has nothing to do with someone being "brown". You should have every right to be proud of who you are and where you came from. But this guy is in the United States of America now. If he's so proud that he's from Mexico that he has to fly a Mexican flag at an event as controversial as this one was, maybe he should have taken the day off and attended as a protestor, not as a "journalist". Or maybe since he obviously has so much Mexican Pride, he should just go back to his homeland where he can fly his flag as much as he damn well pleases.

[leftcoastphotog]

First and foremost I believe that he should NOT have had the flag flying at this time. Staying neutral is the key. That being said it's a bit easier for me because what I believe in ( ie politics) doesn't show whenI pull up my sleeve or by my last name. I am for being proud of your heritage and your country (either by birth or by adoption) BUT not when you are a journalist covering a situation where your pride makes you the news not just covering it.
**** side note****
I had to go and do an interview with an extreme anti-abortionist ( they would make 6' by 6' placards of fetuses and go to the park and show them to everyone who walked or drove by even kids). I am very pro-choice however never once during the interview did my beliefs become known, it just would be appropriate and it would have made it difficult for me to have done my job.
Be proud but don't let it get in the way of doing your job.
My thoughts,
Lcp

[luderitz]

I'm surprised nobody commented on his Miller Light hat yet. Maybe the people yelling at him were all Budweiser/Coors fans. And once again I have made myself very thirsty!:D

[Tom Servo]

This has nothing to do with someone being "brown". You should have every right to be proud of who you are and where you came from. But this guy is in the United States of America now. If he's so proud that he's from Mexico that he has to fly a Mexican flag at an event as controversial as this one was, maybe he should have taken the day off and attended as a protestor, not as a "journalist". Or maybe since he obviously has so much Mexican Pride, he should just go back to his homeland where he can fly his flag as much as he damn well pleases.

Wait a second. I don't think this is about who's flag this guy is flying. It's THAT he's flying a flag that is the problem. If we're not supposed to take sides, then we can't be flying flags, because that is taking sides. Maybe I'm extreme, but I don't display the breast cancer pins, etc on my camera either because I'm not supposed to take sides. I don't display the american flag especially today, because since 9/11 it is making a political statement to do so, and one of the sacrifices we have to make is that we can't go around making political statements.

He shouldn't have taken the day off and become a protestor - -that still kills the objectivity. And I think your last sentence was out of line. No one prevents any normal person from flying a Mexican flag in the USA. Going "back to his homeland" wouldn't make it any more ethical for him to fly a flag if he was still acting as a journalist.

[rocky1138]

so what I'm wondering is if anyone gets punished for wearing green on St. Pat's day. I would think that would be a no-no since we are in the middle of a war on terror. or does that war only include non-white terrorists?

the ironic part is this photog got in trouble by not being completely objective & he was caught by people who are completely subjective

this opens up the old debate of "merry christmas" vs "happy holidays." when can we be subjective in our jobs & show the viewers that we're real life citizens too?

when the home team wins the champianship, is it ok to say congrats? man does this just open up a big can of worms.

overall when the ND gets a bunch of un-happy voicemails about you, you're gonna get punished. if the punishment is substantial, I really hope that they have & will enforce it on all the issues, not just the "brown" ones

if you never stir up controversy, you're not covering the real stories

[Jonathan]

I'm surprised nobody commented on his Miller Light hat yet. Maybe the people yelling at him were all Budweiser/Coors fans. And once again I have made myself very thirsty!:D
It is amazing nobody likes Corona anymore.

Back to the issue, this is totally out of line, I am against any t-shirts advertising stuff or anything that draws attention to me and my views .
I still don't understand the argument over illegal immigrants. There is a legal way to obtain citizenship here in the United States, if someone decides to stay here illegally then they should be captured and deported. End of discussion.

The only winners in this illegal immagration issue are both major political parties and their corporate lobbyists who hire these cheap laborers.

http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscal.html
"A new study from the Center for Immigration Studies is one of the first to estimate the impact of illegal immigration on the federal budget. Based on Census Bureau data, the study estimates that households headed by illegal aliens used $10 billion more in government services than they paid in taxes in 2002. These figures are only for the federal government; costs at the state and local level are also likely to be significant. Among the largest federal costs: Medicaid ($2.5 billion); treatment for the uninsured ($2.2 billion); food assistance programs ($1.9 billion); the federal prison and court systems ($1.6 billion); and federal aid to schools ($1.4 billion). The study also finds that if illegals were given amnesty, the fiscal deficit at the federal level would grow to nearly $29 billion"

[A/B roll]

Wow, how could any professional think that was ok? I'll tell my buddy there's an opening in Houston.