``They said they wanted to remain in a neutral position. It was too political.''
http://www.miamiherald.com./content/archive/news/rafters99/docs2/063486.htm
AP nixes use of famous Elián photo on billboards
BY ELAINE DE VALLE
edevalle@herald.com
The Associated Press has decided not to authorize the use of its now-famous photograph of the federal raid that whisked Elián González from his relatives' Little Havana home by a Miami radio station that wanted to put the image on billboards across the United States.
The image of an armed agent pointing his gun in the direction of the 6-year-old rafter and Donato Dalrymple -- one of two men who found him in the ocean Nov. 25 -- was to be accompanied by quotes from Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy and Thomas Jefferson in a campaign called ``Wake Up America'' aimed at swaying sentiment against the federal action.
The April 22 photo has been turned into signs by Cuban exiles who post copies on their car windows and has been widely distributed on the Internet -- even manipulated to change the face of the federal agent to that of Janet Reno or President Clinton.
``We spoke with [the photographer] Alan Díaz and told him we would put `courtesy of AP' as is normal, but apparently there is a political reason,'' said Jorge Rodriguez, owner of WWFE La Poderosa (670 AM).
AP officials who could comment on the decision could not be reached late Tuesday.
``The excuse they gave me is that it is very political,'' said Carlos D'Mant, a commentator on the Spanish-language station credited with creating the campaign. ``They said they wanted to remain in a neutral position. It was too political.''
After consulting with attorneys, D'Mant announced Tuesday that the station would go on with the campaign, with an alternative image: a collage of front pages from newspapers across the country the day after the raid -- prominently displaying the photo.
D'Mant said The Miami Herald and the New York Times would be among the newspapers.
``We will have to consider whether this is an appropriate use of the front page of The Miami Herald. I have my doubts,'' said Martin Baron, The Herald's executive editor. ``We would be within our rights to prevent their use of an image of our front page if we so choose.''
He said he has made no decision yet. ``We're just hearing about it now.''
D'Mant said he's disappointed because the campaign, which was to begin today at billboards outside airports in more than 20 major U.S. cities, will be delayed. The station, which solicited donations to pay for the ads, said it had already put a deposit to reserve the billboards -- including four in Miami -- for 60 days.
http://www.miamiherald.com./content/archive/news/rafters99/docs2/063486.htm
AP nixes use of famous Elián photo on billboards
BY ELAINE DE VALLE
edevalle@herald.com
The Associated Press has decided not to authorize the use of its now-famous photograph of the federal raid that whisked Elián González from his relatives' Little Havana home by a Miami radio station that wanted to put the image on billboards across the United States.
The image of an armed agent pointing his gun in the direction of the 6-year-old rafter and Donato Dalrymple -- one of two men who found him in the ocean Nov. 25 -- was to be accompanied by quotes from Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy and Thomas Jefferson in a campaign called ``Wake Up America'' aimed at swaying sentiment against the federal action.
The April 22 photo has been turned into signs by Cuban exiles who post copies on their car windows and has been widely distributed on the Internet -- even manipulated to change the face of the federal agent to that of Janet Reno or President Clinton.
``We spoke with [the photographer] Alan Díaz and told him we would put `courtesy of AP' as is normal, but apparently there is a political reason,'' said Jorge Rodriguez, owner of WWFE La Poderosa (670 AM).
AP officials who could comment on the decision could not be reached late Tuesday.
``The excuse they gave me is that it is very political,'' said Carlos D'Mant, a commentator on the Spanish-language station credited with creating the campaign. ``They said they wanted to remain in a neutral position. It was too political.''
After consulting with attorneys, D'Mant announced Tuesday that the station would go on with the campaign, with an alternative image: a collage of front pages from newspapers across the country the day after the raid -- prominently displaying the photo.
D'Mant said The Miami Herald and the New York Times would be among the newspapers.
``We will have to consider whether this is an appropriate use of the front page of The Miami Herald. I have my doubts,'' said Martin Baron, The Herald's executive editor. ``We would be within our rights to prevent their use of an image of our front page if we so choose.''
He said he has made no decision yet. ``We're just hearing about it now.''
D'Mant said he's disappointed because the campaign, which was to begin today at billboards outside airports in more than 20 major U.S. cities, will be delayed. The station, which solicited donations to pay for the ads, said it had already put a deposit to reserve the billboards -- including four in Miami -- for 60 days.