Expert: Acosta video distributed by White House was doctored – U.S. News



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A video distributed by the trump administration to support its argument for banning CNN reporter Jim Acosta from the White House appears to be doing a better job.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted the video, which shows Acosta asking President Donald Trump a question on Wednesday. Aimed by a frame-by-frame comparison with an Associated Press video of the same incident shows that the one tweeted by Sanders appears to be altered to speed up Acosta's arm movement as he touches the intern's arm, according to Abba Shapiro, an independent video who's looking at the footage at AP's request.

Earlier, Shapiro commented that they were frozen to slow down the action, allowing it to run the same length as the AP one.

Shapiro said it would make it easier to alter. It's also unlikely to be explained by the technique of video compression – a reduction in a video size to enable it to be more smoothly on some sites an accident, "said Shapiro, who trains instructors to use video editing software.

Sanders, who has not said where the tweeted video came from, noted that it clearly shows Acosta made contact with the intern. In her statement announcing Acosta's suspension, she said the White House will not tolerate "a reporter placing her hands on a young woman just trying to do her job."

While the origin of the video is unclear, its distribution has been criticized for its willingness to mislead.

The White House News Photographers Association decried the sharing of the footage.

"As visual journalists, we know that manipulating images is manipulating truth," said Whitney Shefte, the association's president. "It's deceptive, dangerous and unethical. Knowingly sharing manipulated images is particularly problematic, especially when the person is sharing their opinion with the public. "

CNN has labeled Sanders' characterization of Acosta's exchange with the intern as a lie. Reuters White House match Jeff Mason, who was next to Acosta during the news and tweeted that he did not see Acosta place his hands on the White House employee. Rather, he said he was holding on to the microphone as she reached for it.

"The irony of this White House video involving Jim Acosta is what it is, it will be doing what it accuses the news media of doing – engaging in fake information," said Aly Colon, a professor in journalism ethics at Washington & Lee University.

Several journalists and organizations – including the American Society of News Editors, the Associated Press Media Editors and the Online News Association – demanded Acosta's press pass be reinstated.

"It is the essential function of a free public interest report, which is enshrined in the First Amendment," said Julie Pace, AP's Washington bureau chief. "We strongly reject the idea that any administration would block a journalist's access to the White House."

The New York Times editorialized in favor of restoring Acosta 's pass, saying it' s signaled Trump 's view that asking hard questions disqualifies reporters from attending briefings. The newspaper said that if Sanders was so offended by physical contact, "what did she do when her boss was praised as 'my kind of guy' Rep. Greg Gianforte of Montana, who was sentenced to anger management classes and community service for body-slamming at Guardian reporter last spring? "

CNN has been a frequent target of the president, who has made the most of the news, and who has been one of the most influential people in the world. . During their verbal altercation on Wednesday, Trump called Acosta has "terrible person."

Still, it's rare for the White House to pull the so-called hard assists from journalists.

During Lyndon Johnson's presidency, Robert Sherrill, a reporter for the United States. During the George W. Bush presidency, Trude Feldman, who was working for several days, was arrested for a second night. In the 1970s, President Nixon tried to get Washington Post reporters banned from the White House.

Despite losing his White House pass, this is Trump's trip to meet with world leaders.

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