My friend Paula Lerner, a fine photojournalist and multimedia producer, has regularly worked in Afghanistan over the last few years. One piece of reportage contributed rather substantially to an award winning multimedia production published by the fine Toronto Globe & Mail (long may it prosper.) Gongs all ’round and kudos to all concerned. One problem. The PR piece published by the TGM didn’t even mention Paula’s name. That, not to put too fine a point on it, sucked, so I thought I’d do something about it and penned the following note to Managing Editor for Photography, Moe Doiron.
Congratulations on TGM winning the EPPY, though I can’t help but wonder why you would not afford the photographer the common courtesy of mentioning her name in the announcement. If it wasn’t for Paula’s enterprise and grit, where would that particular piece of reportage be?
Perhaps your organisation has a “company policy” of not mentioning freelancers. No doubt it’s founded in some solid thinking about not diluting the message or confusing the readers. To me, alas, it’s either a neglectful oversight or, worse, willful disregard indicative of the level of respect the editors actually have for the freelancers who serve them. Either way it smacks of corporatism and does little to improve relations with the external professionals without whom your fine publication would be somewhat diminished.
I’m just wondering who will get the credit for anything once every news organisation has sacked its staffers due to economic pressures and has to rely exclusively on freelancers for content. Will editors continue to pretend that they do not exist?
Good publicity is good for everyone and a rising tide floats all boats, or is that too naiive and should one employ a far harsher degree of cynicism these days?
So how about giving credit where credit’s due?
Well, wouldn’t you know it. It worked. Here’s the revised PR note, and here’s a direct link to the excellent piece of multimedia reporting : “Going behind the veil.” Kudos to Moe Doiron and The Globe & Mail for taking this seriously.
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Update: in an email from today, 23 June, Moe pointed out he’d already asked for the announcement to be corrected prior to getting my message. Seems photography editors do take the photographer’s side whenever possible. Good to hear it!
