Doctored Kerry photo becomes ethics lesson

The photographer who snapped John Kerry attending a 1971 antiwar rally said he and his photo agency intend to track down whoever doctored and circulated a photo that made it appear that the then-27-year-old Vietnam veteran was appearing alongside actor Jane Fonda.

Ken Light, now a University of California-Berkeley professor of journalism ethics, said he photographed Kerry at an antiwar rally in Mineola, N.Y., on June 13, 1971. The decorated veteran was preparing to give a speech at the rally - but Fonda was never at the event.

Light's photo gained prominence when someone merged it with a separate photo of Fonda - one taken by photographer Owen Franken as the actor spoke at a 1972 rally in Miami Beach.

The fabricated Kerry-Fonda photo was circulated with an identifying logo of the Associated Press and became talk show fodder after it was placed on many Web sites as evidence of Kerry's "anti-American" activities after his war service.

Light said he regularly instructed his students on matters of law and photo ethics. But ironically, this year, "I've become the lesson," he said.

Ralph Nader, the candidate many Democrats blame for Al Gore's loss in 2000, will announce on Sunday whether he will make another bid for the White House.

If Nader decides to run, his late start, lack of party affiliation - he won't be on the Green Party ticket this time - and the challenge of getting his name on ballots in 50 states weigh against his candidacy.

Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe said he met with Nader several times urging him not to run because he could pull votes from the Democratic nominee.

World and national headlines

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright