Homer Tribune: DON'T FEED THE PHOTOGRAPHERS
This week's Homer Tribune contains a front-page story on how the Homer city council decided to permanently forbid eagle feeding in the city as of March 29, 2009.
Also on the front page is, ironically, a photograph with a bold, red caption: DON'T FEED THE PHOTOGRAPHERS.
Below is my response which, I suppose, will end up as pearls before swine:
The people of Homer, through their elected city council, have spoken on whether to continue to allow eagle feeding in the city. There were passionate and plausible arguments raised on all sides and, like it or not, a decision was made through the democratic process to forbid eagle feeding after March 29.
What's particularly disturbing, however, is the caption above a front-page photograph depicting several photographers hoping to record images of eagles on the Homer Spit; In bold red ink the caption proclaimed: DON'T FEED THE PHOTOGRAPHERS.
This cheap shot was insulting and uncalled for. Ironically it was above a photograph taken by one of your staff. The contributions of photographers and photography to our society have been numerous and compelling (for example, photographer William Henry Jackson takes much of the credit for persuading Congress to set aside land for Yellowstone National Park). Locally, photographers have not just contributed to Homer's winter economy but also to telling Homer's story. Further, many of us have volunteered in many ways while we are here to be of service to this community. The insulting caption leaves no doubt that the Homer Tribune is incapable of separating reporting from editorial comment which, as any responsible journalist knows, belongs on the editorial page or at least clearly labeled as such.
Dick Ginkowski
Pleasant Prairie, Wis.