Photographers Not Welcome per BP

[dave lackey]

Why is this information about excluding photographers and reporters not broadcast for us to hear?😕

http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0529/media-coverage-oil-spill-strangled-off/

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Dave, firstly, it is starting to become known - it's in Mike Johnston's TOP blog this morning. Secondly it's probably much more complex than some of the comments alleging conspiracy would admit to.
One one hand BP would want not to sensationalise aspects of the disaster if it could be downplayed. The government probably has similar motivation. Neither of them is in control of the situation at the moment. They aren't looking good. Those on the ground (or sea) and trying to deal with something so overwhelming are doubtless stressed, some are doubtless possessed of a personality type that leans towards authoritarianism, and some don't know the law but make it up as they go along.
On the other hand, having to deal with all the stuff going on and trying to make some progress wouldn't make me very receptive to every person wandering in with a camera saying "I'm a photographer and so I've got a right to be here and do whatever I like". Nor to pilots who see an opportunity in flying into a hazardous area at low altitude where all sorts of air traffic is likely to be in a poorly controlled airspace. Nor to every boat owner who wants to rubber neck.

Some no doubt have a legitimate interest in being there and recording it. But in what amounts to an unprecedented emergency situation it's a bit hard to develop protocols, procedures and permissions on the run. So whilst I understand a bit I don't have an answer. Many people will be trying to do the right thing and no doubt others will not see it that way and be obstructive.

 

[ashfaque]

Hi Dave,

I was watching Al-Jazeera today and their reporter was saying that very few people, involved with the cleanup, are willing to speak on record/camera, as they nervous about their potential job/business prospect with BP. They only found one boat speaking on camera. They were feeling very unwell. I think you'll be able to see it during their news bulletin.

Both govt and BP are quite worried about legal actions. In case you don't know in USA, business organisations, legally speaking are treated similar to individual entities - i.e., they have similar rights as an individual! (I was shocked when I became aware of it!) So I suspect there is some kind of legal threat or some bargaining going on between govt and BP to reduce the mess.

What is really shocking is that because it happened in USA it is getting more media coverage. But when this sort of things happen in Africa, South America, they are not covered on many international media in due proportion.