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BP's Photo Blockade of the Gulf Oil Spill

newsweek.com

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Re: BP's Photo Blockade of the Gulf Oil Spill

#13

Post by yellowbkpk »

Here's the actual TFR:

http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_2957.html

"Pilots requesting flights under this exception must contact the houma deepwater horizon incident air operations center at 985-493-7804 between the hours of 0600-1800 cst, a minimum of 24 hours prior to desired flight time. Operators should be prepared to provide precise details of their requested flight including: pilots name and contact information, company/organization, purpose of flight, type aircraft, callsign, ingress/egress points and times, Requested altitude and route of flight. Pilots will then be provided with additional instructions for obtaining final approval and beacon code assignment."

Re: BP's Photo Blockade of the Gulf Oil Spill

#15

Post by SandB0x »

rjett wrote: post #2

On a related note, I was just remarking to a friend today about how hard this oil spill is to think about without seeing any sort of visual diagrams of the well, what the seafloor looks like, where the relief wells would be drilled, etc. These sort of visual aids have been conspicuously absent in mostly everything I've seen about this catastrophe.

There are many excellent diagrams here: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/25/us/20100525-to...

Re: BP's Photo Blockade of the Gulf Oil Spill

#17

Post by tshtf »

andreyf wrote: post #6

Sounds like a great opportunity for real reporters to dress up as fishermen to sneak out there and take some unique pictures. This kind of thing only stops the half-ass-reporters out there who will go home after running into the coast guard to complain and feel sorry about themselves. boo hoo BP is trying to control the press coverage Uh, yes, that's what a public company has to do: maximize shareholder value. Now do…

In all understanding of the laws of the United States...

Uh, yes, that's what a public company has to do: maximize shareholder value. Now do what real journalists are supposed to do do: break a couple of stupid rules, find a way to get out there, and take some damned pictures. What are they going to do? Shoot down your plane? Seriously.

From the article:

The problem, as many members of the press see it, is that even when access is granted, it’s done so under the strict oversight of BP and Coast Guard personnel. Reporters and photographers are escorted by BP officials on BP-contracted boats and aircraft. So the company is able to determine what reporters see and when they see it.

I mean, what kind of journalist decides because the coastguard stopped you, you're going to sit back and write self-pitying articles like this? Grow some balls, just hide in a fishing boat for all I care, and take some damned pictures.

From the article:

Local fishermen and charter boat captains are also being pressured by BP not to work with the press. Left without a source of income, most have decided to work with BP to help spread booms and ferry officials around. Their passengers used to include members of the press, but not anymore.

How can you take those pictures?

EDIT: I apologize for not being able to properly use the tags, I am in all honesty going through the arc3 code right now and this issue will soon be addressed.

EDIT^2: Many kind thanks to anigbrowl for suggesting the correct formatting!

Re: BP's Photo Blockade of the Gulf Oil Spill

#19

Post by andreyf »

tshtf wrote: post #17
andreyf wrote: post #6

Sounds like a great opportunity for real reporters to dress up as fishermen to sneak out there and take some unique pictures. This kind of thing only stops the half-ass-reporters out there who will go home after running into the coast guard to complain and feel sorry about themselves. boo hoo BP is trying to control the press coverage Uh, yes, that's what a public company has to do: maximize shareholder value. Now do…

In all understanding of the laws of the United States... Uh, yes, that's what a public company has to do: maximize shareholder value. Now do what real journalists are supposed to do do: break a couple of stupid rules, find a way to get out there, and take some damned pictures. What are they going to do? Shoot down your plane? Seriously. From the article: The problem, as many members of the press see it, is that even…

How can you take those pictures?

Use your imagination ;)

Edit (for you down-voters): Fine, here's some off the top of my head:

  * Rent your own plane and fly over without permission,
  * register a fishing company and get a job working for BP,
  * find a way to take pictures while avoiding detection, or just
  * bribe the fishermen.
These are off the top of my head, I imagine someone whose full time job depends on thinking of them will have many more and better ones.

Edit-reply: you're right about my first example, if violating the FAA regulations is as risky as it sounds. But my larger point, that entrepreneurial journalists should be able to find a low-risk way, stands.

Re: BP's Photo Blockade of the Gulf Oil Spill

#20

Post by anigbrowl »

andreyf wrote: post #6

Sounds like a great opportunity for real reporters to dress up as fishermen to sneak out there and take some unique pictures. This kind of thing only stops the half-ass-reporters out there who will go home after running into the coast guard to complain and feel sorry about themselves. boo hoo BP is trying to control the press coverage Uh, yes, that's what a public company has to do: maximize shareholder value. Now do…

I'm not sure that obstructing the legitimate first amendment rights of the press (which courts have tended to interpret broadly) in pursuit of short-term advantage necessarily maximizes shareholder value. Fighting a lawsuit against multiple news organizations or a class of professional freelance photojournalists could get quite expensive.
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