Crowley: Competing images of Obama and Netanyahu show why news outlets shouldn’t rely on official White House images

New York Times Lens Blog
Stephen Crowley notes the different portrayals of last week’s meeting between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The official White House image shows Netanyahu listening intently to Obama; the photo from the Israeli government captures Netanyahu with a more skeptical expression. Crowley writes: “By releasing this single picture, was the White House trying to convey a sense of comity? Of presidential confidence? Of a deep understanding between president and prime minister? There was no answering these questions, because no journalists witnessed the moment.” Crowley writes that this problem extends to Capitol Hill, where journalists are still banned from covering the House and Senate while in session. || Earlier: Photographers describe staging of Obama photo after announcing bin Laden’s death, and they debate how they should cover such events now that the White House has decided to discontinue re-enactments.