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Venturesome, vainglorious

It could have been passed off as an All Fools’ Day’s joke. But The Hindu is not known for levity or frivolity. Or for pulling readers’ legs. So when a picture appeared on Page 2 of the Chennai City edition on April 1, 2009, the readers who reacted to it sounded indignant — “We did not expect this from a standard newspaper like The Hindu.” “I deeply regret the paper has gone down on ethics.” “Even a novice can spot this and T he Hindu readers are not gullible.” “It is a shoddy job and we are aghast.” So went the comments. Only one reader mentioned April Fool’s Day. (The picture is reproduced here for those who see the other editions of the paper).

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Unfortunately, this was no gag. It was planned, deliberate dishonesty by a senior staff photographer. Whatever the perpetrator intended, damage was done to a venerable institution. The Editor-in-Chief had to apologise. That it was pulled off also revealed a weakness in the system.

SHARING SOLITUDE: It’s a solitary world of shrill calls causing ripples across silence, peopled by just two mynas in sync, spotted at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai recently.

The photographer, confronted with the reactions, first maintained that what he submitted was an original picture. It was then examined by the chief of the graphics department of the paper and also by an outside expert. Their finding: it was a manipulated picture.

Their conclusion, after studying a 200 times enlargement of the picture, was that photo editing software had been used to mirror and flip the image and create a pair of birds where there had been only one. Crudely finished cut-out or selection marks were seen around the edges of one bird. The photographer finally confessed it was a 2008 picture that had been doctored, and apologised profusely. (The caption said it was a “recent” photo.)

This was the second time I had to deal with such an issue. In December 2006, the Madurai edition carried the picture of a pigeon with its image reflected in a pool of rainwater. One reader made the charge that it was a manipulated image as the reflection was sharp with no shaky lines. A detailed study showed there was no tampering at all. I concluded my column then (December 18, 2006) with the Photo Editor’s comment that The Hindu did not indulge in such practices.

I cannot say that again even though the paper itself is not at fault but was let down. The photographer, by his action, has left a permanent scar. He has been punished, his otherwise excellent service record of 24 years mitigating the severity of the action taken.

That he could get his “creation” into the paper revealed a weakness in the system. A very large number of pictures comes into the system every day. And a selection has to be made. This is the job of the Photo Editor who judges their quality. The news desk comes in after a first list has been made. When so many readers could spot the fake (from the reproduction in newsprint), how did a veteran photographer, technically highly qualified, miss it in the original? He told me the picture came during the rush hour, from a senior photographer. It is always rush hour in a newspaper and that can be no excuse for letting your guard down. Inquisitiveness and a questioning mind are essential traits for a journalist when handling any input, whoever be its author. In this case there was no urgency either.

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This is not my first experience of a journalist with a creditable record venturing to do something foolish and getting caught. What drives them to this? It cannot be for recognition, for their quality is known. A gambling spirit? Vaulting ambition? Overconfidence? I keep wondering as I see them fall.

readerseditor@thehindu.co.in

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