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Anderson Cooper saves boy's life during filming
Bill Gaither, Photographer
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Galesburg | IL | United States | Posted: 7:36 PM on 01.18.10 |
->> Feels like I'm jumping on a grenade by staring this thread. CNN showed video of Anderson Cooper saving a young boy's life during 'looting' in Haiti.
The link is here: http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/18/anderson-in-the-midst-of-looting-chao.../
I still remember sitting in my media ethics class and being asked point blank by the professor if I was first on scene to a report of a suicidal subject reading him/herself to jump off a bridge, what would I do...shoot the scene or intervene and attempt to save their life.
I honestly don't have an opinion at present, and just wanted to put it out there to see what folks think. A lot of general public seem to like Anderson and in seeing this footage it might give an interesting perspective on when and if journalists interfere with events as they unfold.
Thoughts? |
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Tom Szczerbowski, Photographer
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London | ON | Canada | Posted: 7:49 PM on 01.18.10 |
| ->> One thing is clear : he's narrowly edging out Simon Cowell in the 'who-can-wear-a-tighter-black-t-shirt' competition. |
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Derek Montgomery, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 7:52 PM on 01.18.10 |
->> I think when it comes to preserving a life or preserving a moment as a journalist, you have to have a little humanity. I'm not sure what would have been accomplished from a journalism standpoint by continuing to film this kid bleeding and dying.
There are times when this serves a purpose, but it seems like there are so many media outlets covering this that if the public spent anytime reading into the situation in Haiti, they would realize that looting and violence are becoming more of a problem. What I'm saying is that standing back and recording the moment wouldn't have revealed much about the situation than is already known.
That link also reminded me of the story about Jared Dort that was in a Sportsshooter newsletter last year...
http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/2027 |
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Brad Barr, Photographer
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Port St. Lucie | FL | USA | Posted: 8:01 PM on 01.18.10 |
| ->> IMO, if you are willing to watch some kid die this way just cause some ethics professor said journalists cant interfere..........then karma is gonna really kick you in the head very soon..... |
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Mark Smith, Photographer
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Elk City | OK | USA | Posted: 9:35 PM on 01.18.10 |
| ->> There is never anything "unethical" about saving the life of an innocent child. |
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Matthew Bush, Photographer
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Hattiesburg | MS | USA | Posted: 10:01 PM on 01.18.10 |
| ->> Right on Fish. I understand the ethical concerns but this case to me is not interfering in a scene. Anderson did what most father would have done this kid was in a bad way and he reacted. This is no different than LA Times photographer Luis Sinco driving Marine Lance Corporal James Blake Miller (The Marlboro Marine) to the PTSD clinic when he was suicidal. |
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Jody Gomez, Photographer
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Murrieta | CA | USA | Posted: 10:46 PM on 01.18.10 |
| ->> I say great job. No story or picture is more important than a human life. |
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G.J. McCarthy, Photographer
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Dallas | TX | US | Posted: 10:47 PM on 01.18.10 |
->> And there were cameras around to catch every dramatic second. How serendipitous for Mr. Copper and CNN.
Now before you all lose your shit and yell at me, if you've never had the opportunity to watch a big network or TV station work in a disaster zone (or spot news of the like), keep in mind that little they do is left to chance. The impression most give that they're running around out there "solo" is horse caca; there are camera folks, sound folks, producers and handlers of every color of the rainbow.
I'm not saying this to belittle any one or their actions. What Mr. Cooper did for that boy is pretty awesome; bet he never thought he'd be doing that way back when he was on Channel One or hosting The Mole.
Just saying, as consumers of news, we need to be cognizant of all that goes into the magic you see glimmering on your boob tube.
Cheers,
- gerry - |
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Andrew Spear, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Athens | OH | United States | Posted: 10:51 PM on 01.18.10 |
| ->> We're humans before we're photographers. |
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Jody Gomez, Photographer
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Murrieta | CA | USA | Posted: 10:54 PM on 01.18.10 |
| ->> Gerry - Mr. Cooper names the crew members that were with him that day. He didn't try to make it seem like he was a lone ranger. Maybe he grabbed the kid because he realized that between himself and the crew members, he was the only one with relatively free hands. I believe he did the right thing because, well, it was the right thing to do. |
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G.J. McCarthy, Photographer
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Dallas | TX | US | Posted: 11:09 PM on 01.18.10 |
->> Karen:
Thanks for sharing that. Something I wasn't aware of.
I guess where I'm coming from in all this is, the cynic in me finds it mildly dubious. Mr. Copper did a cool thing, and CNN will use it in every way shape and form to promote the crap out of themselves in the whole war for viewers they have with other networks.
That make sense? A good thing was done, and while we all see the humanity in it, the big shots that run the company see the dollar signs. Rubs me the wrong way -- always has, always will.
Anyway, they're businesses, just like my beloved newspapers, so it's their right to make scrilla however they deem fit, I suppose.
I'll shut up now about all this. Guess I'm still having a hard time dealing with this and all the other Haiti-related threads.
This is bigger than us; it's bigger than Anderson Cooper. We all get to snuggle back in our warm houses when all this is said and done. So does AC360 and his whole crew.
They're millions upon millions of people in a island country at our doorstep who won't have the same luxury.
I just hope we all -- myself, you all included -- continue to care about the people of Haiti when the camera crews all head for home.
Cheers,
- gerry - |
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G.J. McCarthy, Photographer
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Dallas | TX | US | Posted: 11:19 PM on 01.18.10 |
| ->> Sorry Jody - don't know where Karen came from. Guess your icon looks like Karen Warren's on my Crackberry. Apologies for goofing on your name. |
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Jack Megaw, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Pittsburgh | PA | America | Posted: 11:21 PM on 01.18.10 |
->> Good Job Anderson Cooper. Personally I would not be able to stand by and watch a young boy with blood pouring down his face like that and not do anything about it. I am a person before I am a photojournalist - and if it comes down to it I will make the human choice and do the right thing every time.
I hope we would all do the same.
-Jack |
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Jason Myers, Photographer
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West Palm Beach | FL | | Posted: 11:54 PM on 01.18.10 |
| ->> not an Anderson Cooper fan, but kudos to him for helping. |
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Garrett Hubbard, Photographer
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Washington | D.C. | USA | Posted: 12:23 AM on 01.19.10 |
->> wow. wild stuff. Glad to see it reported--exploited or not. thankfully it is not our job to judge to motives of Cooper's heart.
I read his memoir a while back. Amidst his dizzying work from one disaster to another--"an express elevator to hell" as Nachtwey might say--Cooper's compassionate heart really comes through. I'm a fan for that reason alone. |
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Baron Sekiya, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Keaau | HI | USA | Posted: 12:48 AM on 01.19.10 |
->> I've scrambled down a hillside to rescue someone from a late afternoon blazing car wreck, lost a fire extinguisher and got a nice cut on the hand while doing it and went to a cold, night basketball game in extra shorts & t-shirt I had in my car (my clothes were trashed and soaked with rain and mud) after that. No photos of the wreak, blaze, other wreaked cars or the chopper that medivaced in (though I did get it flying off).
Also got singed and soot covered after helping to save a home from burning in a huge brushfire. I already had some good photos before the amateur firefighting and I smelled like a BBQ while doing darkroom work.
You've got to be human first and do what you have to helping people. We can't stand to lose anymore subscribers and especially not to wrecks and fires.
Not only the victims but your conscience will thank-you for it in the future. |
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Kent Nishimura, Student/Intern
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Honolulu | HI | USA | Posted: 2:34 AM on 01.19.10 |
->> well put mr. frischling.
amazing. wild story. im in awe. :)
the human condition never ceases to give me hope in this world. |
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Sean D. Elliot, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Norwich | CT | USA | Posted: 6:57 AM on 01.19.10 |
->> the problem I have is when the reporter then goes out of his way to blow his own horn ... look at me save this life ...
another CNN reporter let rescuers use his truck to transport a victim pulled out of the ruins too ...
if you're not human first what's the alternate? inhuman? I guess I hope none of us would be inhuman in the face of such tragedy.
but once you start tooting your own horn, bragging about the lives you saved, I'm not sure that's really what's needed. |
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Curtis Clegg, Photographer
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Sycamore | IL | USA | Posted: 9:06 AM on 01.19.10 |
->> There's nothing that says a journalist can't be compassionate and professional at the same time.
Nick Ut photographed the girl burned by napalm, and then drover her to get medical assistance. The Pulitzer followed not long after:
http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0008/ng1.htm
It's an old story but a good one, well-worth re-reading every year or so. |
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Sean D. Elliot, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Norwich | CT | USA | Posted: 2:31 PM on 01.19.10 |
->> Nick Ut didn't put himself in the middle of the story ... he put down his camera and did his good deed. Anderson Cooper never turned off his camera, his mic or his crew ...
Anderson Cooper made himself the story. |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 3:43 PM on 01.19.10 |
->> Sean,
I say, "Why the heck not?" Cooper is in the business of trading on his celebrity. If he can save a kid and get something out of it for himself and his employer, more power to him. It may not be Mother Teresa-like, but not much is.
--Mark |
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Gary Cosby, Jr, Photographer
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Decatur | AL | USA | Posted: 6:23 PM on 01.19.10 |
| ->> It always takes guts to get involved. It doesn't matter whether it is on national TV or in some place where no one will ever know about it. I am glad Cooper did what he did. If his motives weren't the greatest, who cares. Maybe he saved the kid's life. |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 8:02 PM on 01.19.10 |
| ->> Perhaps someone should ask the kid if Cooper did the right thing. |
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Mitch Traphagen, Photographer
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Victor | IA | USA | Posted: 8:17 PM on 01.19.10 |
->> I agree with one of the posts that said it is not our job to judge his motives - but that is effectively what this discussion is about - and as journalists it is a legitimate topic for a number of reasons.
I'm neither pro nor con on Anderson Cooper. I respect the talent and, from what little I've read of him, it does appear that he has earned what he has achieved.
I saw the video clip - and initially had thoughts of oh-so-much drama, etc. But the telling moment for me came after he dragged the kid out of the way. He saw the kid was still in trouble and he threw the camera he was holding aside to pick up the kid.
Being in media, most of us have seen CNN location sets - there are a number of people but certainly not an army. There was chaos at that location. I've been in similar (but less cataclysmic) locations - that camera could have easily disappeared in a flash (I noticed the camera operator picked it up - but it could have quickly just disappeared).
It would be easy to say that his income level is such that losing a small camera isn't a big deal. But as photographers, it's not the dollar value - it's the footage. That is a huge thing for all of us at any level. By tossing it aside to pick up the kid, to me, at least, drama didn't play a role in his decision. To me, it appeared his only concern was the kid.
That, and I can't imagine everyone would pick up a bloody person in a third world country. Perhaps I would. Perhaps you would. But a lot of people wouldn't. He didn't seem to hesitate.
But yeah, I'm certain CNN is going to exploit the crap out of it for the rest of our natural lives. But they got it. It's theirs. More power to them. Regardless, as Gary said, I think it did take guts.
Be human first. |
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Mitch Traphagen, Photographer
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Victor | IA | USA | Posted: 8:27 PM on 01.19.10 |
| ->> Sorry Steven - I meant to attribute you on 'Be human first' but neglected to do so. |
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Angus Mordant, Student/Intern
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David Minton, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Bradly J. Boner, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Jackson | WY | USA | Posted: 12:43 AM on 01.20.10 |
| ->> Sean... was there somewhere besides the linked page that Cooper was "tooting his own horn" that I missed? Personally, I'm not really with Mark L. in that Cooper was "trying to get something out of it for himself or his employer." I think he's reporting on what happened, and what happened is that he became part of the story. What Cooper did for that kid is, I would like to think, is what any humane person would do. Giving a report of it is what a professional journalist would do. |
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Joe Cavaretta, Photographer
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Ft Lauderdale | FL | USA | Posted: 6:23 AM on 01.20.10 |
| ->> I heard a report that Chuck Liddy performed brain surgery too.. but that was on a different thread. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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| | | Posted: 8:01 AM on 01.20.10 |
->> Joe
I thought Chuck was out single handedly rescuing orphans and puppies while beating back the rioting hordes. |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 10:35 AM on 01.20.10 |
->> Bradly, I didn't say that Cooper was "trying" to get something out of it. I just pointed out that he did. There's a big difference.
--Mark |
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Jason Heffran, Photographer
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Natrona Heights | PA | USA | Posted: 11:17 AM on 01.20.10 |
->> I'm new to SportsShooter and thought I would throw my two cents in on this topic.
I think that Anderson Cooper acted with his heart on this one. In my opinion, he probably one of the most genuine TV personalities on the major networks. Kudos to him for doing the right thing.
As for CNN, of course they'll milk it for all it's worth and AC360 will benefit. But, that is more the fault of the network's exploitation for ratings that a smack on Cooper's actions.
It's a shame that anyone could look upon what he did as negative - regardless of what his "employer" does with it.
Just my two cents. |
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Sean D. Elliot, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Norwich | CT | USA | Posted: 11:23 AM on 01.20.10 |
->> if we're really going to go through this ... lots of journalists do humanitarian things and the vast majority of them turn-off the camera or whatever and never even report it. Dr. Gupta does not take a CNN camera crew into the OR with him. The first time he did, this, back in Iraq, he didn't even report it, the Military did.
given the massive amount of humanitarian acts in progress, inserting oneself into one's own reporting smacks of self-promotion and I don't think passes the smell test.
Would he have done the same thing if no cameras were present? I certainly hope so, but to spend so much time patting himself on the back for it makes one wonder (or at least it makes me wonder).
My answer to the initial question is the be human first one ... and then I say don't put too much effort into bragging, it just looks unseemly.
just my .02 of course. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 2:46 PM on 01.20.10 |
->> MY GOD THE NEGATIVITY ON THIS BOARD is DISGUSTING
I have read MANY MANY times in papers, on line and here on SS about members of the media who have saved people or done heroic things. Why can't you all just applaud what Anderson Cooper did instead of looking at the dark side. Who cares WHAT good press he got from it-he did something worth praising. Believe me, if any of you did the same thing, you can bet all of us here would be reading about it here right here on SS.
By CNN showing what he did, for as long as they want, MAYBE, just MAYBE, it will SHOW and TEACH other journalists what they should do in a similar situation. |
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Robert Scheer, Photographer
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Indianapolis | IN | USA | Posted: 5:36 PM on 01.20.10 |
->> I couldn't agree more Debra.
Hating on Cooper is, well, just hating. He's got a unique skill set, and I'm convinced will be thought of as a hall-of-fame journalist in 30 years.
Name somebody else who can do front-line work as well as he does AND yuk it up with Kathy Griffin on NYEve. He's worth his salary, and some. |
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Wesley R. Bush, Photographer
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Nashville | TN | U.S. | Posted: 5:55 PM on 01.20.10 |
| ->> Debra: What are you referring to? Only one or maybe two posts question his intent. The rest, to me, is overwhelming support. |
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Bill Gaither, Photographer
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Galesburg | IL | United States | Posted: 7:03 PM on 01.20.10 |
->> Time to jump back in, especially being the thread starter.
Let's settle it in terms of 'negativity.' As Robert said, only 1-2 comments took that tone, when overall it was majority positive. I apprecite all who have responded, as this isn't necessarily a "Was Anderson right or wrong?" but more of a "What would I (insert name) do?"
I'm only a few years into this wonderful profession. I would intervene and help, as anyone. A repeating sentence was 'humanity first.' It's hard to lump several things into one or two sentences. Eddie Adams and the Saigon pic. Nachtwey and the tragedies he's covered. Would intervention make a difference? The Marine who was suicidal and the photographer who helped. The kid(s) who were going to drowned and was/were saved by the photographer. Anderson...whether he set his gear down or not (though in the footage he did)...all these things are situations where one could wonder did that photog do too much or not enough?
I think most would take a positive from this thread, in that no matter if someone was elbowed at a game in an effort to edge out competitor photogs, cut someone off otherwise, etc...that deep down we're all united in that we'd help to save the life of someone in need.
Won't keep on with the sermon. Appreciate all those who've replied and may continue to do so. Thanks again! |
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G.J. McCarthy, Photographer
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Dallas | TX | US | Posted: 12:02 AM on 01.21.10 |
->> Well Debra, as someone who I assume is lumped into the "hater" crowd, I offer my apologies to you and anyone else I apparently offended with my comments. Perhaps I could have made them less sarcastically (those who know me well can vouch it's my unfortunate M.O.), and maybe I could have offered more actual guidance or advice, if that's really what people on here wanted (I doubt that).
Look, maybe it's just the way my parents raised me, but people should do good deeds for the sake of the deed alone; they should just do them because it's the right thing to do. It's actually really sad to me that somehow we all need to clamor together to publicly laud this sort of behavior. Do good deeds actually need that justification? Hope not; that's effed up.
Bill, back to point -- this exact issue has come up several times before on this message board that I've seen, and every time with similar result. I don't think it's a bad discussion to start, but really, aren't you going to do what you're doing to do, regardless of what input you get on here?
I mean seriously, if you (not you specifically, Bill -- the hypothetical, you at large) need feedback from your peers on something like this, than maybe you need more help than anyone on here can offer.
Same goes to the people who keep reminding everyone that we're all "humans first." Oh, really? Really? Gee, hadn't heard that one before. Thanks for the insight, all. Here I was being an insufferable, festering asshole all 30+ years of my life on this ball of dirt and water. Phew -- good thing you all set me straight!
Thanks for that, amigos and amigas. |
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Bradly J. Boner, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Jackson | WY | USA | Posted: 12:54 AM on 01.21.10 |
| ->> Mark L. - good point... there is a difference indeed. |
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Bill Gaither, Photographer
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Galesburg | IL | United States | Posted: 9:55 AM on 01.21.10 |
->> G.J.
I appreciate your input, and ultimately the thing with physical 'words' on here, as opposed to actually conversing with someone in person, it where true translations are lost. As said this thread and those with a similar beat have been posted several times. I think the thing in this case is that probably 90+ percent of people who watch some sort of news know who Anderson Cooper is, a rockstar of sorts with on-screen media presence. Ultimately, to me, it wasn't about what I would do, nor you, nor Mark L, nor anyone, in terms of point-blank asking what someone would do, and what answer they would give on the thread. It simply was a chance for people to ask themselves that.
As Paul Harvey would say "and now...the rest of the story," here's mine. In class that day (refer to top of thread to get the setting of this comment) I said I'd help the person. When asked why and how come I would jeopardize my job, I answered that I'd still be able to look myself in the mirror and sleep at night and that maybe journalism wasn't worth it if I can't have those things.
I know you weren't specifically mentioning me and I appreciate that, but I also had been vague on my opinion because I didn't want to influence the thread. This situation doesn't apply but there's a general trend when one person gives their opinion, and then the crowd goes 'yeah' and kinda follows along like sheep. Oddly enough the book banning scene from Field of Dreams comes to mind. Anyways...
Anyone who's responded, I've been appreciative. As mentioned earlier, the decency of those responding have established that there's a sense of unity in all of our deep down ethics.
Not sure how to close this comment so I'll go with the gratuitous statement of thanks to everyone! |
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