Almost killed by the EMTs

“I think that's just wrong, ethically. Should there be a law against it? Probably not. I'm more on the less government that the, let government do our thinking for us end of things.”

“I can't type worth anything today. I'm trying to say that I prefer less government to letting them try to do our thinking for us.”

“See Tilt's Amateur Interpretation of the concept of Prior Restraint Above, LOL

This is interesting. At least I called it by it's correct name.

This is quite an interesting discussion, but I gotta run! Sunset is at 7:59 and that crescent Moon (7% full) ought to be pretty slick!”

“It's clear in East Alabama, probably the same for you in GA. Have fun with your telescope.”

“...just don't use it to take any pics of dayhiker's wife having a kid...lol...

j/k folks...”

“childbirth at 250x would NOT be a pretty sight.

Tilt, you need to come on the Sipsey trip in Feb. I'm not sure what part of GA you live in, but it's about 4 hrs from Atlanta.”

“I agree with you, and just for the record please do note that I've merely stated "how it is."

I think with any right comes the responsibility to use such a right wisely and with honor. Just because it is legal to do something doesn't necessarily make it "right". To use your example, taking invasive photos of your wife giving birth would step WAY over the boundaries of good taste, no matter how legal it might be.

Please note also that this is not speaking to lizs's situation -- it seems like she wishes to do her job in an ethical manner.

Speaking of which -- lizs, if you make your living with your camera and cannot afford its replacement, you really ought to make sure it's adequately and properly insured.

Plus if one of the EMT's had laid a finger on you, you would have had a VERY good case for all sorts of interesting lawsuits. Assault, battery, obstructing freedom of the press, etc. Remember also (and I could be wrong here, it may vary depending on location) "assualt" does not require any physical contact -- serious threats I think can qualify as "assault".”

“Points well taken deeddawg. Also, I was not intending to bash lizs or her situation. I do get frustrated with the media in general in certain situations.

deeddawg, I noticed you're in GA as well. Look into the Sipsey trip upcoming in late Winter/ early Spring. It's on the trips board.”

“PS. the childbirth example was only used because it's a pretty dramtic example. This didn't actually happen and thus cause my angst.”

“Yes I believe that you shouldn't have your picture taken if you don't want it taken.

Once, I was working a strike & the press wanted to take my picture. I made a DEAL with them that I would get them a story if they leave ME out of it. I got the head honcho to talk with them & they got a 2-page spread. My picture was prominently posted. I NEVER helped them again & would bar them access (that was over 30 years ago)

Another time we were at the funeral of very very close friend's son who was killed on a military vessel in the Mediterranean. It was a high emotional time for the whole town. This was a "brother" for my daughter & we had gone camping/canoeing together. As I approached the casket a reporter stuck a TV camera & mic in my face. RAGE would be an understatement & they recoiled even though I didn't speak a word. I have little use for the unscrupulous press.”

“Those are the types of examples I was referring to with my sarcastic "journalistic rights" comments and "publics right to know". I'd like to think it's a case of the actions of the few spoiling it for everyone. My own dealings directly with the press have been very positive.”

“Sorry you got intimidated, Lizs. I hope it works out for you, and that they are better trained in the future.”

“Hi, I had to do some other work there for a bit.

I talked to the top Sheriff's deputy about it:

He was there. He said he had gone down into the truck to retrieve some property, heard some yelling at some point and kind of wondered what was going on, but went back to what he was doing. ("Now I know what was going on," he said.)

He suggested we address it with the ambulance director, explaining why we are allowed to be there. (A letter might be nice I presume, or maybe we could even do a seminar on why the press is allowed.)

I like this sheriff's deputy (he wouldn't take some BS on a manslaughter type case).

He said a number of things like:

1. A picture taken is not necessarily a picture published

2. Barring something really graphic or someone dead, there is nothing wrong with taking photos (and from my knowledge, even that would be allowed, but someone above made the point about the community ultimately setting what is acceptable and what is not on its paper's pages. Very true!)

3. He pointed out the sheriff's dept. will not only let the press have access to accident scenes, they will at times try to accommodate the press if they know of some better angle or something they know will make for a better photo. He said, after all, that's your bread and butter, and something like, we'll help you
if you help us

So I'm thnking if there is some information on this we can quote, a letter would probably be good.

Also, the accident resulted from a gal getting distracted. He didn't
know if there would even be a report. (So in other words, photo may be MOOT!)

Thought you guys would all be interested in this. It made me feel better. But then, I think back to the rage in those EMT's eyes and it gives me the creeps.

Hmmm... I should work on and post the photo. Will do, so you can judge yourself.”

“Here's the photo I would use IF one is used in the paper.

Accident photo”

“Liz - Before you post any other images, please e-mail me. I have lost your address and I hope you still have mine.”

“lizs, maybe you should ask persmission first, there are a lot of people in that photo, and maybe one of them did not want their picture taken. I work for a City government, and no matter what the situation, the reporters/news photographers always ask if it is O.K. to use my photo/image. I always say that it is fine, but I think it is very courteous of these people to ask. Just because someone is a public severant type worker does not mean that they are less of a person than anyone else. You should just be more polite and ask first.”

“After reading that, I need to clarify, I did not intend to be an a$$hole. I was honestly just trying to give useful advice. Sorry to offend if it did. On a second read it sounds offensive to me.”

“Snacks!

lisapbia@yahoo.com”

“Lizs, I don't thik it was ever a matter of the photo's content that was the problem. The problemwas over-officious EMT's. The photo itself is fine, as best I can see.

It also wouldn't appear that your were too close or in the way from the photo.”

“Snacks, I have a Monday, July 14, 2004 Waterloo Courier. :-) A friend down Westgate way clipped it and said, hey, I have an article on this wildlife photographer.

Image his surprise when I said, is he from Tr***** and is his name K**?

LOL... I said, yeah, I know who he is, from my dumb backpacking site.”

“Dam Lisa thats nutz!!!!!

Man I hope you run all the photos on the story and they choke!

8|”

“Errr... 2003

OK, so I told him I didn't really know you, to meet you, even though you are the closest TTer to me. Hey, I moved, too.”

“I know the reason lizs!
It's that person back by the truck in the back of the picture!

Your picture made her look fat! ;)”

“Yeah, you took a picture of HER and made her look fat. What, did you use some kind of CAMERA or something?”

“Tahoe, while that is polite, I don't think they need to ask permission. Now, I'm not positive on it, but I would think at a public function, no permission is necessary.

I shoot photos at City Council meetings and I wouldn't dream of asking permission. It's a public event. I'm figuring anything there is public record, so the same would go for photos.

I've taken photos at public meetings with government officials. If any city gov. official is in the photo, it's part of the job.

I'm not quite so sure if you're taking a photo of the front desk people in the city office. Don't know what would be right, but at least for myself, I would ask permission.

Hopefully someone can clarify, but as I understand freedom of press laws, at a public event, no permission would be needed.

(let me say that after a city EDA meeting -- Economic Development Authority -- meeting, a local woman came up and said, please don't use my name in the story. I kind of hedged, laughed and said, us damned journalists anyway. If she is willing to give her opinion when there are only two guests and the board, she should also be aware it's in the public minutes. And trust me, she does know this, as she talks at Council meetings a lot.)

Tahoe, as you said, I'm not trying to sound like an @ss either, but I think you're just really used to very polite people. I don't think they need to ask your permission at a public event. Not at all.”

“As a fellow journalist, I feel your pain, lizs. That was total B.S. Covering accidents and making people aware of what happened has the power to make people think twice and take extra safety precautions. Too bad they were blinded to that fact, for whatever reason.”

“If my child were in an accident, I would not want the press taking photos of her/him.

I appreciate the decency of the EMT's.

Lizs' journalistic (hahahahaha) style ala Jerry Springer, may sell newspapers and inflate her fragile ego, but there is no benefit to society.

Her headline of almost being killed is very telling. She reads/writes too many tabloids.”

“Sometimes people working under stress overreact. I doubt you’ll get your Pulitzer for this one.”

“I sounded a little too much like bacpac on that one.”

“lizs - Maybe you were talking too loud when you were taking the pictures.









JUST KIDDING!!”

“I know you are a nice guy, but you need to grow a pair.”

“bacpac - It was an inside joke.

If you had a pair big enough you would have been at the Nashville gathering and would know that.

(Big enough for you?)














JUST KIDDING”

“Lizs, you are correct. I called the city attorney and he confirmed that your thoughts are correct. (Fridays are slow around here)He did not know the Municipal Code or Statute off hand, but he said that pretty much anything in public domain is not off limits.
The photos I end up in are usually at public works projects, like bridges or new playgrounds. There is not a great sense of urgency to be captured so the news folks just have more time....or maybe I'm really hot and those field news reporters just want a chance.





NOT!!!”

“I don't have to be friends with everyone. I just enjoy my friends.”

“bacpac - I like to be friends with everyone.”

“I know that about you.

We do not agree. I can't be friends with people who I do not respect. I think Lizs is a phony. You love everyone.

Let's agree to disagree.”

“Just an aside...

That crescent moon was a killer-diller. You folks out west need to get your butts outside.”

“I'm with you, Tilt. Just got back and it's glorious indeed.”

“You know I dig ya but sometimes reporters can be a pain.

You didn't seem to be in the way or interfering but maybe they have had trouble with reporters in the past and hung a lable on you as a pest without knowing you'd respect the situation and give them their space.
I'm just trying to see the situation from their point of view.

They did seem like pricks though.

Sorry to hear you had a bad day.”

“I took the photo down. My intent is not to disrespect anyone.”

“I just want to know what kind of state you live in where a person can roll their truck and get injured and yet no crash report is required.”

“There will be a report. It deals with whether or not it's put out as a media release. I think there has to be an injury reported, possibly even a serious injury, for it to be released.”

“okay. I misunderstood. I didn't know he was talking about a press release.”

“I'm just ticked off that Forrest beat me to the alien theory.”

“If you were in a horrific accident, would you want someone to stand there and take pictures of your mangled body as paramedics tried pumping life back into you???

Regardless if there are NO rules...you could've been much more considerate to the victim and the response crew and heeded to their request.

But hey, you've got a job to do no matter how low you need to stoop to get it.”

“I got a paper cut once & almost died.”

“I completely disagree, buddur. There was no loss of privacy from the picture I saw, and there was no reason for them to even ASK her to leave just because she was taking pictures.”

“I agree, Phaed. Am I wrong, or was the victim not even shown in the photo? All I remember seeing was the overturned truck and some workers. If that's the case, then how is that defiling the "victim" that some of you claim is being hunt out to dry? Where's the closeup of that person's face, their face winced in pain and agony and painted with his/her own blood?

Some of you claim the media are drama queens, but I think you need to look a harder look at yourselves. Those who live in glass houses....

Gimme a frickin' break!”

“Artex wants the 'money shot'.”