Controlling the Image of the War Dead

Steve Scher
05/04/2004 at 9:00 a.m.

The debate continues on displaying photos of the flag-drapped coffins of the soldiers killed in Iraq. Last Friday's edition of ABC's Nightline became news and the subject of debate for Ted Koppel's reading of the names and showing photos of all the soldiers killed in Iraq. Also last week, USA Today posted photos of all the soldiers killed in Iraq in April. And now the world continues to see photos of suspected torture and abuse of Iraqi prisoners at a U.S. prison outside Baghdad. What photos should the public see and not see from the battlefield? Who should be in charge of determining what photographs are available to the public?

Guests:
Michael Fancher Executive Editor, The Seattle Times
MaryAnne Golon picture editor, Time Magazine
Peter Howe author of Shooting Under Fire: The World of the War Photographer