It’s not something that I have seen here in South Africa, but it’s commonplace in the UK to have the local rag come and investigate some local news issue and bring a photographer who will take a relevant picture for the story. And, more often than not, the protagonist will feature in said photograph – posing with relevant props and a relevant facial expression.
It’s the accepted norm.
And because it is both accepted and norm there really didn’t seem anything odd about it.
Until, that is, Scaryduck (if that is his real name) came forward and pointed out just how odd this practice is on his appropriately-titled website Angry People in Local Newspapers.
I feel sorry for local news photographers. They are hugely skilled and poorly paid, and sent out to photograph miserable people pointing at dog turds. Here, we celebrate their work.
Add a witty comment or observation under each story and you’re away.
Scaryduck is the alter ego of Alistair Coleman (if that is his real name), author of Tales of Mirth and Woe, a book that I haven’t read.
However, if it’s anything like as amusing as his APILN site, it will be well worth a look.
And yes, I did submit this to his site.
Scaryduck (“it’s not scary and it’s not a duck”) is a legend in these parts….he’s won awards and stuff. And his name is really Alistair Coleman, or so we Brits are told.
And he’s a gooner….so there!
Well worth a read at http://scaryduck.blogspot.com/ (Parental Guidance sometimes!)