AP Suspends Use of U.S. Army Photos Over Digital Alteration

Army says that photo was altered but did not break Army policies

The digital alteration of photos is nothing new in the world of print magazines and newspapers. Photos on the cover of magazines are frequently digitally altered to improve the appearance of people, places, and products photographed.

The Associated Press (AP) is embroiled in a fight with the U.S. Army over a digitally altered image that was provided to the AP and distributed to the media. The photo in question is of General Ann Dunwoody and shows the general in front of a U.S. flag.

After the AP distributed the photo, it was found that the photo was digitally altered to include the flag. The original photo showed Dunwoody sitting at a desk with photos and a bookshelf behind her. As a result of the digitally altered image being released, the AP withdrew the photo and suspended the use of any photos from the U.S. Department of Defense.

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A spokes woman from the DoD insists that the altered photo does not violate any U.S. army polices which stipulate that photos will not be altered to misrepresent the facts or change the circumstances of an event.

Colonel Cathy Abbott, chief of the U.S. Army’s media relations department said that she did not know who had changed the photo or which office had released it. Abbot continued saying, “We’re not misrepresenting her. The image is still clearly Gen Dunwoody.”

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