Curiosity about the use of personal photos

**pritch** · 25th August 2011, 13:36

"Lazy journalism" is over egging the pudding. It's just lazy. It has nothing much to do with journalism.

Bloggers and others are complaining that the papers and TV networks are now routinely using 'Net sourced stories without credit.

Recently I understand the Harold used a catchy major headline which they "borrowed" from a talkback radio caller.

I have twice in recent months seen stories on the TV3 News which I had read previously on blogs. No mention of the source. It is understandable that at least one blogger refers to "repeaters" rather than reporters.

**Big Dave** · 25th August 2011, 13:38

Originally Posted by pritch

It is understandable that at least one blogger refers to "repeaters" rather than reporters.

Because he's narked that he can't get a gig at a real publication?

**HenryDorsetCase** · 25th August 2011, 13:44

Originally Posted by Blackbird

I was in Auckland on Tuesday having new tyres fitted. The whole tale is here: http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2011/...t-choices.html, but here is the relevant part pertaining to this bit of the tale.

Whilst I was waiting for the tyres to be changed, I was flicking through Motorcycle Trader. It's not a magazine I buy and I started reading an article about tyres. In the article, there was a photo of a Street Triple with a laser alignment rig - bloody heck, it was my bike and the rig I built!

(and I took the photo).

I've never had any contact with Motorcycle Trader so it was rather a surprise to see a photo I'd taken! The only way it could have got to them was for it to have been copied from my bike blog. Now I have to say that I was more surprised and curious than annoyed so wrote a neutrally-worded email to the editor as soon as I got back, asking where it came from, but not mentioning the blog. To date I've had no response whatsoever.

If he replies showing a bit of contrition, that will be the end of the matter - I'm not going to make a mountain out of a molehill. I do, however, think it's lazy journalism and discourteous at the least. If there's no reply or an inappropriate one, I may take it further; simply to wind them up a bit.

Does anyone have an informed legal opinion (as opposed to the normal KB uninformed opinions) with respect to their actions - copyright infringement perhaps? A bit cheeky at the very least, given they're a profit-making entity.

Watch this space

Cheers,

Geoff

no idea about that copyright stuff, but tell us more about your street triple and the laser alignment rig. Photo too. please.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 25th August 2011, 13:45

Originally Posted by pritch

"Lazy journalism" is over egging the pudding. It's just lazy. It has nothing much to do with journalism.

Bloggers and others are complaining that the papers and TV networks are now routinely using 'Net sourced stories without credit.

Recently I understand the Harold used a catchy major headline which they "borrowed" from a talkback radio caller.

I have twice in recent months seen stories on the TV3 News which I had read previously on blogs. No mention of the source. It is understandable that at least one blogger refers to "repeaters" rather than reporters.

aren't they "reporting" what they find to other, less well informed folk?

**pritch** · 25th August 2011, 13:49

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

aren't they "reporting" what they find to other, less well informed folk?

Not really. If they research and write their own story, yes. If they just plagiarise somebody else's work, no.

**Blackbird** · 25th August 2011, 15:11

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

no idea about that copyright stuff, but tell us more about your street triple and the laser alignment rig. Photo too. please.

HDC:
The first laser rig was for my Blackbird in 2004 or thereabouts. It was a non-adjustable prototype for a 180 rear section, 120 front section tyre combination. It worked so well that I didn't bother to refine it. The original article is here: http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2010/...-handling.html. When I bought the Striple, the height of the rig was wrong for it because I now used a rear paddock stand so I just raised the height a bit. The tyres were the same sections as for the 'bird. There's a photo here: http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2011/...and-wheel.html. That's the photo which Motorcycle Trader used.

BTW, just click on any of the photos to enlarge. Hope it's of interest.

Geoff

**Blackbird** · 25th August 2011, 15:23

Originally Posted by pritch

Not really. If they research and write their own story, yes. If they just plagiarise somebody else's work, no.

Ron:
I think that "Reporters" is a more accurate word than "Journalist" judging by most TV and print media these days. I personally think you can only be called a true journo if you're capable of doing some digging, interpreting the facts and presenting them in a concise manner - most aren't. I know it's getting away from the topic a bit but I listened to an English investigative journalist the other morning on the radio talking about the global financial crisis. His ability to get to the root causes without cliches and his candour was breathtaking. Learned more in 10 minutes than anything I'd picked up in the last year. Oh to have had him as a lecturer....

**scumdog** · 25th August 2011, 15:42

Originally Posted by pritch

Not really. If they research and write their own story, yes. If they just plagiarise somebody else's work, no.

I wonder who they turn to and blame when they have inaccuaries in a story they paigerised?

More if they've been threatened with court action for defamation when they've used somebody elses 'info' and not checked it for accuracy/truth?

**oneofsix** · 25th August 2011, 15:47

Originally Posted by scumdog

I wonder who they turn to and blame when they have inaccuaries in a story they paigerised?

More if they've been threatened with court action for defamation when they've used somebody elses 'info' and not checked it for accuracy/truth?

Isn't that part of the reason they do it? Laziness and cheapness are the prime movers but after that comes observation of source. If they are sued they deny ultimate responsibility and confuse and prolong any case making it too costly to sue them and limiting their liability.

**Spearfish** · 25th August 2011, 16:01

Lots of maggots crawled out of the News of the World once that turd was busted open so I guess there is a limit to what a wordsmith can get away with. I think some news channels in NZ look like they have some wrigglers just under the skin