News Photographer, Chief Editor Resign Over Fake Photo

Faked Photo by Liu Weiqiang

This happened in China, where the Daqing Evening News apologized and its chief editor and photographer both resigned over a news photo that has been doctored.

The faked photo (which may still be viewed here), showing more than 20 Tibetan antelopes roaming peacefully under a Qinghai-Tibet Railway bridge, had earlier been declared Bronze medal winner in the 2006 CCTV news photos of the year contest.

The photographer, Liu Weiqiang, claimed he dug a hole and waited eight days to take the photo of the very shy antelopes. But when the photo was later questioned, he admitted to using Photoshop to stitch together two photographs, one with the antelopes and another one with the passing train.

His paper issued an apology and its chief editor, Wang Zhongyi, has resigned over the scandal.

Liu also resigned, saying, “I have no reason to continue my sacred career as a newsman. I am not qualified for the job. I have sent in my resignation to the newspaper. I am deeply sorry…” (Do they still impose self-criticism in China?)

[Via: Xinhuanet.com]

Published by Chris Malinao

Chris teaches Lightroom as workflow software to photography students at the FPPF, Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation. He also teaches smartphone photography.