-> 
-> I think in this case the altering of the image was stupid - knowing the
-> paper's policy - but the firing was also draconian. The punishment did not
-> fit the crime. Two shots in succession of a single incident were combined.
-> 
-> No meaning was changed, the story the combined image told was no different
-> than either of the source images - only the composition was improved. No one
-> was demeaned or defamed, no new meaning was created. No viewers would have
-> been lead astray.
-> 
I agree with you completely on this Larry.  I saw the pictures and
combining them just made a more pleasing shot...a much stronger
composition... without changing the truth the final picture told. As you
said, no one was even being led astray as I'm sure the photographer was
well aware that he duplicated some of the background people. I suppose,
however, allowing such an alteration would be just opening the door to
bigger changes in the future.  Remember when the speed limit indicated the
fastest speed you could travel instead of the slowest?

Karen 
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