San Antonio Observer

Guiding your business through the project

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES
MARCH 2006
PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN 

REPRESENTATION:
An edition of San Antonio’s weekly newspaper, San Antonio Observer, published a cover story in response to a series of police shootings in the city. The image accompanying the article featured a police officer in a Klu Klux Klan hood holding a weapon. The headline read, “I’m Scared.”

REALITY:
The newspaper later admitted that the hood and weapon had been digitally imposed onto a file photo of a San Antonio police officer. Police spokesman Joe Rios claimed the Observer defamed the officer, whose badge number was visible. “I can tell you that the officer who was depicted in that picture is very upset,” said Rios. 

Ida Brown, a spokesperson for the newspaper, refuted the claim that the badge was legible, claiming the photograph was not meant to be a personal attack. “Primarily, the picture shows that there are racist police officers on the force, and they do target minorities who are innocent,” Brown said.

Learn more:

• Read “What is ‘Too Far’ for the Media” from Police and law enforcement news