I’m sure that everyone that is getting the RSS feed of Alameda Daily News’ mirror site probably saw the latest update by Don Roberts, but did everyone notice the photo that accompanied the news story?
Take a close look at the orginial photo:
And then the one posted on ADN:
Notice anything different?
Blogging Bayport Alameda 
Don has finally joined the ranks of mainstream journalism sources such as the New York Times, and Reuters who have photoshopped pictures. Know all he needs is a mustache to look like Geraldo and he will be a “real journalist”.
Comment by kamala — October 5, 2006 @ 4:08 pm
Who would have thunk it than Good ol Don or his staff would have even been able to do that!
Comment by Ben Kruger — October 5, 2006 @ 4:18 pm
Oh, LaurBen, come on! This is nothing but a mere innocent prank!
Comment by keepmeasurea — October 5, 2006 @ 6:38 pm
Oh, what a tangled web we weave! I noticed this earlier as well and emailed Don.
Don,
Perhaps you’ve heard about the recent flap over Reuters publishing doctored photographs on their website? So, I was more than intrigued to notice that the original photograph of the AP&T control room morphed into something else when it appeared on your website. Admittedly, this isn’t on the same scale as the Reuters episode. But why would you want to alter the original image and not acknowledge it as being doctored? Perhaps you meant it as a joke, but atleast you could have disclosed this, no?
See attached file (doctored-image.jpg ) for the version that appeared on alamedadailynews.com
This is somewhat disturbing and points to a lack of transparency and ethics (in my opinion). Who knows what else goes on behind the covers?
—
Malgudi.
Don’s reply:
”
Of those few who noticed, most realized that it was a joke.
”
So, why not disclose it as such, I asked subsequently:
Don,
What about the others who didn’t realize it was a joke?
Unless you think otherwise, this isn’t the onion, where everything is a spoof! You are positioning your site as an “award winning newspaper for best-informed Alamedans”. I would postulate that this alone merits a footnote to the effect that the image was doctored and not rely on your readers to make the call. There is a reason why the print newspapers have a banner that says “Paid Advertising” on all their full page advertisements, lest readers confuse that to be an endorsement or news article. The same yardstick applies to your “newspaper” as well.
—
Malgudi.
No reply from Don thus far!
Comment by Malgudi Iyer — October 5, 2006 @ 8:08 pm
Thanks to his posting, I fixed the RSS feed now to properly include the images so feed readers get to see the doctored photos as well…
Comment by Dan Wood — October 5, 2006 @ 10:58 pm
I sent him a letter as well, which he didn’t even bother to acknowledge. And of course Don Jr. – keepmeasurea, is clueless as usual about integrity.
Comment by kamala — October 6, 2006 @ 8:02 am
Abusing Photoshop’s ultimate power ultimately corrupts.
AP&T shouldn’t be using photoshop to enlarge images of Don Roberts — no wonder they are in debt!
Comment by EJK — October 6, 2006 @ 1:56 pm
Maybe you can chalk it up to the full moon, but I am actually going to agree with Mr. David Howard (otherwise known as keepmeasurea) . . . again.
Given all of the serious journalistic deficiencies in Mr. Roberts’ television show and “award-winning” Web site, this little Photoshop stunt doesn’t even make the top ten list. Like Mr. Kruger, I am impressed that he managed to pull it off — anyone who’s seen the production values on his show will understand our amazement.
So please, folks, let’s all enjoy a chuckle at Mr. Roberts’ sophomoric little prank and save the hand-wringing about journalistic integrity for the real television news shows and newspapers.
Comment by Michael Krueger — October 6, 2006 @ 2:31 pm
Leave it to Don Robert’s mad photoshop skillz to bring the world closer together.
Comment by dyson — October 6, 2006 @ 2:39 pm
I’m with Michael Kruger on this one, but it is the kind of thing that, if done by somebody else, Don Robert’s could easily make a big stink about.
He is real big on ridiculing people for spelling and syntax errors, especially if he doesn’t like the substance of your message.
Comment by Mark — October 6, 2006 @ 6:17 pm
Oh man, you guys as such sore sports. And same small circle of regulars here…
Comment by keepmeasurea — October 6, 2006 @ 10:38 pm