Opposition Blasts Egyptian Newspaper Over Photoshopped Picture Of Mubarak

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I guess it's not just celebrities and actors who have huge egos, politicians do as well. Not that any one with an ounce of fame really has any control over what is published about them in the various media outlets, but one has to wonder about the recent brouhaha regarding the doctoring of a photo by the Egyptian state-run newspaper al-Ahram. The original photograph shows Barack Obama followed by Egypt's Hosni Mubarack, and the leaders of Israel, Palestine and Jordan. At the White House to launch the latest mid-east peace talks, the photo was taken on September 1. Since Obama was hosting the event, and it was taken at the White House, it makes sense that Obama would lead the group. However, several weeks later, the photo appeared in al-Ahram with none other than Mubarak leading the way. Ironically, in the original photo he trails behind the other three, but was Photoshopped to appear at the head of the group.

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It's just plain silly, and definitely unprofessional as some in Egypt have said.

The opposition 6 April Youth Movement called the newspaper "unprofessional" for publishing the manipulated image.

In a statement on its website it said: "This is what the corrupt regime's media has been reduced to."

It added the newspaper had "crossed the line from being balanced and honest".

Al-Masry al-Youm, the independent daily newspaper, said Al-Ahram had "carried out surgery" on the photo "to show Mubarak leading and the rest behind".

Apparently, Al-Ahram pulled the doctored photo from its website and used another one that shows all the leaders seated at the Red Sea resort.

Photoshop is a wonderful invention for artistic endeavours, I use it all the time for my photography work, but it should not be used to create false images in journalism. They should be ashamed of themselves, as should all news media outlets that have done the same thing in the past.