March 26, 2005

Libelous Photos

The cover of the March issue of Harper's magazine shows a group of Marine recruits. One of them is fading.
It's a story on going AWOL.

The recruit shown as fading is angry. He's Lance Cpl. Britian Kinder, an active duty Marine who's not the least bit AWOL. Neither are any of the other Marines on the cover. They're not too pleased either.

Neither is Getty Images, the owner of the photo. No tampering is allowed.

Giulia Melucci, vice-president for public relations for Harper's says the cover photo is merely decoration. There's no word on what her reaction would be if she were pictured on the cover of Time with a knife superimposed in her hand to illustrate a story on "Women Who Kill."

Or if the HQ of Harper's was pictured on the cover of Newsweek to illustrate a story "Does Media Profit From Child Porn?"

Or "Magazines That Suck."

UPDATE:
Country Store puts the Harper's editorial policy to good use.

Posted by floridacracker at March 26, 2005 07:17 AM

   



Comments

Merely decorations? I have a good decoration for my copy of Harper's magazine. I have a cat who likes sitting on the cover a few times daily.

Posted by: Art at March 26, 2005 12:09 PM

Wow, this looks like a potentially classic invasion of privacy case. Even if the recruits gave their permission for the photo- - which is not at all clear- - there is a subset of privacy cases that are based on showing someone in a "false light". I'd bet $10 that Lance Cpl. Britian Kinder's parents are getting bugged to death by contingency fee lawyers right about now. Wonder where he's from? Any red-State jury would return a large verdict against a blue rag like Harpers; can you imagine those fancy pants NY lawyers having to try this case to a jury in, say, Beaufort SC??- Hah!

Posted by: Carl in Atlanta at March 26, 2005 05:56 PM

I remember when David Letterman had to pay up big time for showing the footage of the heavyset lady eating a peach. It was for invasion of privacy and subjecting her to ridicule.

I hope that Marine sues Harper's for a bundle.

Posted by: Donnah at March 26, 2005 06:20 PM

      If the link above ever goes bad, you should be able to find the cover here, as well as a possible answer to Florida Cracker's question.

THE SAUDS MUST BE DESTROYED!

Posted by: Stephen M. St. Onge at March 27, 2005 03:36 AM