Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Jonathan King and how Andy Coulson 'doctored a photo'
Jonathan King's autobiography 65 My Life So Far is on sale from December 6 - his birthday. I shall be reviewing it, of course. With former News of the World editor Andy Coulson in the news, it is apposite to publish an alleged example of his work at the paper, especially now he's the Conservative Party's boss spin doctor. In his new book, King publishes two pictures of himself seated in a park: he contends the right pic was doctored and published by the Screws, to make it seem that King was ogling a boy. The left pic is the true view, he claims. The Press Complaints Commission rejected King's complaint. It was unfortunate that, as King himself says, the PCC chairman at the time was Les Hinton, Coulson's boss. In this instance justice did not seem to be done.
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17 comments:
The pictures are not identical. The other deckchair is missing in the second photo and the stripes on King's tracksuit are partly folded hidden under his leg. I can only assume a number of photos were taken at different moments.
I agree with the above Anonymous. The background view is also different with trees in the 2nd picture not present in the 1st. Also, where's the Serpentine in the 2nd? If the two pics can be this radically different I don't see how the PCC could have ruled against JK. Unless of course the two photos are different.
The 2 Anons miss the point.
As an expert in photoshop-the NoTW snap is yet another tawdry and badly but all so common attempt at doctoring a photo for the tabloid press. Check out the lad's hand-he is holding the non-existent hand of the woman who has been photoshopped into the pic behind him. Either that or the poor boy has a badly misfigured left hand.
Trust me-I'm a former Fleet Street snapper.
Look at the size of the boy who is obviously in the distance. He would be well over 6 foot tall if it was genuine and the woman with him about 7 foot.
The photo of myself taken by a friend is in a similar deckchair in the exact position I was in - as verified by the deckchair person - on the Sunday morning, to illustrate the difference in the background in the published News of the World picture. I can only assume the disappearance of the Serpentine and the addition of a family and a park were created by a technician on the paper. However, as I said, the PCC found against me. You must believe who you choose. Further details in the book.
I suspect we shall see David Cameron Photoshopped into Number Ten next year; smoke and mirrors...
They are plainly not the same pictures because in the left one you can see King's spectacles, not in the right. To establish that the picture was doctored, it would help if the two pictures shown were identical in other ways.
The photographer who wrote in must know that it's possible to tell if a picture is PhotoShopped or not.
JK has said that the two pics are not the same. He says the left picture was taken by a friend for perspective to contrast with that of the Screws pic.
Yes; the point of the similar photos (but taken in exactly the same position) was to show that the background is totally different and that the family walking past were added at a later time by the wizardry of new technology - at least that is my suspicion.
I want to believe King but how do we know the "doctored" photo has anything to do with King's? It could be a picture in Central Park for all I know.
Well I WAS there filming an interview in those clothes waiting in the deck chair whilst the cameraman went for a pee... just enough time for him to make a quick mobile call... long lens... almost identical shot of me in the deck chair in the park and the article Pervert In The Park cited the exact time and place... over to you!
It's obvious the right pic has been photoshopped. There's a problem of perspective and proportions: the two people who are walking past JK, quite close to him, are way too small compared to his own size. Just my two pence here.
Doctored or not, what is appalling to me is that a picture can be taken of any subject hanging out at the park watching PEOPLE pass by and be used to call him a pervert. In which way does the man in the picture look like he's ogling anyone? It's outrageous that any publication would be allowed to get away with such vile act.
It is very common now for newspapers to photoshop pics Up until a couple of years ago they would say so in the caption but that's out the window now. It really is a time where the camera can lie and it's vey easy to do. In tabloids a doctored pic is forgotten within days after the initial impact.
The real question is-why can't King sit in a deckcahir and look at anything he damn well wants to ?. It's nonsensical to think he sat at the Serpentine on the off-chance a lad may walk by. If he was spotted outside a school for hours on end perhaps it's a story but this cleary isn't the case. It's manufactured tale for sensationalism, something we know the tabloids are famous for.
There is a valid point that questions the morals of a person who has participated in this(Coulson), whether he should be now advising a political party who could be leading the country.
In King's case he is clearly very smart and able to at least defend himself to some degree or make some sort of protest. Pity the average Joe who gets this treatment day afer day and doesn't have the recourses to fight back.
If Jonathon King goes into these matters im his book it should be fascinating reading quite apart from his pretty interesting life. I've always thought the way he emerged from jail head held high was admirable because he bucked the media's expected pose of slinking shame.
Thank you Pontificator; I do indeed go into greater detail about this incident in my book and was strongly supported in my complaint by Roy Greenslade (see another cutting carried on the book site - www.65MyLifeSoFar.com). Probably foolishly I believe Creditgate and MP-gate can be eclipsed by someone picking up on Sexgate and I feebly hope my book may inspire such an investigation and exposee.
I'll wear my spectacles next time I post on the Great Madame Arcati.
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