Earlier this week, CNN's chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, had his White House press pass suspended after a confrontation with President Trump and a White House aide. Now, a video expert has claimed that the video the White House tweeted in defense of the decision has been doctored to make Acosta look more aggressive.
Abba Shapiro, a video production trainer, says he noted the anomalies in the video tweeted by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. In particular, Shapiro says the video was sped up at the moment Acosta and the aide made contact in order to make Acosta's arm motion look more aggressive, with additional frames then inserted to restore the original timing. He also said the fact that the video is missing audio is suspicious, as this would make it far more difficult to convincingly change its timing. The White House News Photographers Association has called the footage "deceptive, dangerous, and unethical," and of course, if true, such a manipulation would be an egregious violation of governmental and journalistic practices. Multiple news outlets have reported that the video appears to have come from Infowars, an alt-right conspiracy news site. Paul Joseph Watson, an editor-at-large for InfoWars, says the video was not doctored, but was made from a GIF, which he claims explains the anomalies. It's unclear why the White House would have used the Infowars video as a source as opposed to direct footage from the cameras at the event.
Trump voice: “how could Infowars doctor a video, they never even went to medical school”
Really??
Yes really. people are a allowed to have a sense of humor in 2018. Instead of downvoting, you should get one it makes life more enjoyable.
I have a sense of humor. It wasn't funny.
Edit: I have no problem with making fun of people when it's obviously in jest but I seriously doubt that was the case here. Don't misunderstand, I'm not a huge Trump fan and really don't like a lot of his jabs at people or a lot of the things said about President Obama, supposedly in jest. People don't seem to realize, the target of their jokes could be genuinely hurt from their jibes, although I kinda doubt President Trump cares.
Well that’s subjective I thought it was funny. It was good to see at least one comment not expressing outrage. I don’t find Adam Sandler dinner but still keeps making movies lol
No, you don't have a sense of humour. You've consistently demonstrated that throughout your time here on this site, Sam. LOL
Just because I don't share your sense of humor doesn't mean either of us don't have one. I'll prove it to you... Post your portrait and I guarantee I'll laugh. ;-)
If you have to tell people you have a sense of humour...
If you have to tell people you have a sense of humor... they're probably ultra-partisans with the requisite habit of dehumanizing anyone who disagrees with their world view. Either that or they're from New Zeala... Oh! Never mind. ;-)
You got one thing right today my friend. Congrats!
Are you kidding me? This is at least the second thing I got right today! :-)
Lolz!
Sorry double post and I don’t know how to delete it lol
No problem. I do it too. I wish we could delete posts. Sometimes, I'd like to take back my "knee jerk" comments. :-)
Good one! It’s better to have a sense of humor rather than get outraged.
I am a pro video editor and there are many reasons why this would happen. His analysis is flawed (im not saying he is wrong) as it does not take into account the recording frame rate, the encoding that twitter uses, and how he downloaded the content. The compression and re-compression of video files can produce any number of results.
The problem is now that people put more emphasis on their own entrenched opinion and beliefs than they do on objective facts. That includes our Government officials be they in the US or the UK.
“Fact” used to trump opinion (no pun intended) but since the invention of “fake news” everyone has an excuse to avoid objectivity in favour of what they want to believe. Individuals need to have the strength to see things for what they are no matter if they support or cross their beliefs.
As for the video. Manipulated or not both “sides” will see what they want to see and no matter of analysis with help. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle. Did he touch her? Yes. Was there malice? No. Was he rude? Perhaps. In any other administration there’d be a shrug of the shoulders and it wouldn’t amount to anything. What followed here were two sides fighting to use the footage to further their own agendas. You can either allow that behaviour or force a change to it.
STOP with those political biased articles! Its so clear. It's SO irritating! Keep your political opinions for yourself and focus photography/video,etc.
This is a useless discussion. I saw the event in real time and it is irrelevant whether or not the subsequent video was altered or not. The event in real time substantiates the assertions regarding the misconduct by the reporter.
Where's the article from Fstoppers about Twitter taking down the VIDEO of Antifa surrounding Tucker Carlson's home at night and threatening him and his family?
Everyone needs to calm down. The article is about the video not about the administration. F stoppers covers all things video and photography and that includes things like this. The writer never once gives an opinion about the video or the administration.
The only people making this political are the people saying it’s political.
Great article Alex. It’s an important reminder that seeing isn’t always believing these days.
It would be a good article if the video was important and conclusive. It wasn't and the White House shouldn't have made it the focus.
I think it’s an important reminder that we have to stay skeptical about what we see on the internet and tv. That’s important for everyone to remember regardless of where they live or what they believe.
I agree so long as our skepticism is balanced. I question presentation from every source but try not to extend that to any individual's morals.
Thanks, Rich. I wish we could separate those two in the comments a lot more, as you highlighted.
Sorry Mr. Foley,
Your quote is Wrong " The only people making this political are the people saying it’s political."
Choosing this POLITICAL example to be used to cover the technique, was a bad and stupid choice by Mr. Alex Cooke, period! Our country is too volatile, to not expect this kind of feedback he is getting.
Just Dumb, Dumb, Dumb!
Perhaps part of what makes it volatile are people who seek out the personal contact information of authors whose articles they don’t like just so they can call them stupid and threaten to shut down the sites they write for, eh, Leon? Perhaps a bit of respectful discourse on the article itself would be a better strategy.
- Dr. Alex Cooke
Hey, you reap what you sow! Like I said, Dumb Choice, by you. I wanted you to get the point, and stop these Stupid articles from any in the future, I like FStoppers, and I and many other subscribers want it to have good writers that can contribute good information! My email to you, was because you were in defense of the article and Blind as to why you have so MANY Comments on this article that are not even about photography! Do you get it NOW!!
Oh yeah! Your email is on a Public posted Website!
The only point I got was that you like to yell and declare things to be true with insults instead of making reasoned arguments. The fact that I don't agree with your rants doesn't mean I don't get what you're saying or am blind to it. And no, I didn't do anything that deserved someone sending me an email that opened with "YOUR STUPID!!!" The irony of the grammar mistake in that insult was not lost on me, however.
Look here cooke, Like I said If you don't get the point, then your intelligence level is borderline Stupid or Blind or both, There is nothing to agree about, I'ts clearly Dumb on your part Not to see that by picking a very controversial and very recent video as a sample, in today's world would provoke the type of comments you have seen on your post. Now, 1-2 years from now, might not matter.
Yes, your right, I should have not sent you an email. But, There is "no reasoned arguments," My rant, was a statement that is correct, So, let me get this straight, You don't see where if you would have used a different sample, that you would have had less negative comments? Yes there negative.
If you say no, then my assessment of you is correct, Blind also!
How about the, LOL, title of this topic, " Independent Expert Says White House Doctored Video to Make Reporter Look More Aggressive. That is using Politics, to Bait! It would have been better for you to say, " How do Doctored images, (since this is primarily a Photographers site) change the perception of reality?" Look at your Long intro of information, It's purely politically stacked. None of that was needed, especially if you would have used a less controversial sample!
And yes, I do like to be loud about declaring the truth! Insults are only bad, when there not deserving!
I hope this will help you to THINK, about this for future topics you may choose. Good Luck!
Your mistake is thinking I was unaware these comments would happen. Avoiding discussing things just because they make us uncomfortable is a naive way to go through life. I chose this because it's a current event and was thus highly relevant to the topic.
Well, now, you just admitted your poor choice, and premeditated stupid thinking to post this article.
Wrong again, cooky, No mistake on my thinking, there are plenty of comments here to support my statements. I don't have a problem discussing uncomfortable topics, if I did I wouldn't be commenting on your debacle. Highly relevant to political posturing. We Don't Need This Political Crap on FStoppers!!! Period!! It's FAKE NEWS!
My name isn’t “cooky”; don’t address me as that again. And don’t email me stuff like “YOUR STUPID!!!” again (again, the irony of that grammar mistake isn’t lost on me).
“I don’t have a problem discussing uncomfortable topics.” And yet here you are, still yelling and rambling about how it shouldn’t be discussed, sending me offensive emails, and trying to appeal to the majority as if that’s valid logic. We’re done interacting.
OK Cooky, LoL! I only emailed you once, You have a public website. You act like I violated your email. You're a piece-of-work! Just keep the Political Crap out of FStoppers!! That's all I stated. Other than you are stupid and it was a dumb decision, and that's my opinion, Period! Oh Yeah, the only thing lost on you is maybe your Brain, and it is valid logic.
OK we're done interacting cookeee! Unless you ever want to work on a project together.
He used a relavent video that’s making the rounds in the news.
I had no problem reading the article and seeing it for just what it was which is an article about a video editing technique and how it can be used to change how a video looks.
As I already mentioned he never made any comments about the administration. he simply wrote a story about a video which is like 50% of the stories they write here. I honestly find it funny that a website full of adults can’t handle an article because it involves a specific person or topic that makes them angry. I don’t like Logan Paul but I wouldn’t flip out if they covered some relavent he did related to video or photography.
If you don’t like the article then don’t click on it. Is that so hard?
Hey, mr.folly, The same goes for you! You don't like the comments, don't comment! LOL!!!
Umm I was responding to something you said to me. That’s called having a dialogue... you know... that completely reasonable thing people do on a daily basis. But I guess if you’re used to people ignoring you as you scream into the empty void I can do that because I honestly think I could have a more intelligent conversation with a brick wall.
At the end of the day, you have a reporter that was "showboating" and has a history of such. Then you have a President who just can't seem to blow this kind of behavior off. If the President really wanted to put a sock in Acosta, he could have let him ask many questions, go on and on asking...then answer them. Then after Acosta took so much time...hey it's time to go thanks you for coming, then walk off.
That's actually a good idea. I doubt it would have an effect on either side though.
I wondered if this would get posted here and no matter how u stand politically it is a relevant issue with todays technology to change reality. I saw the situation live and if any aggressive behavior could be apportioned it was the intern with direction from the president. Acosta blocked her as she moved into his place when she went to grab the mic. From his hand. The second version did seem more pronounced in that moment but i think at the end of the day u couldnt apportion blame to Acosta nor the intern both were merely trying to do their jobs. As to video changes no video journalism should not be manipulated we rely on believing what we see. But we cannot control what we hear, see and believe now because of the ability to change it. What we may agree on is that controversy is a very powerful tool used in order to detract from real issues and to divide and conquer - it is being played masterfully right now. I dont think this manipulation is new and i feel that it is ethically wrong when it comes to journalism
An expert was your "headline". The headline is misleading, "expert". No way to know if the person is an expert. I sure don't know what your motivation was on this site. Clearly, I think, if you're going to cover the frame by frame video, find issues on both sides. I like fstoppers and enjoy your work. Thought so much of your site is cut and paste from outside source's. I do like when you create your own work. If I was one of your writers, I am sure my bias would show, regardless of what I covered. Your site is maturing which I like. From my perception, your "how to video's" are way overpriced, but in a free market, this is your right. The free market always corrects itself. Keep going, I am with you guys. Emotionally maturity is a difficult process.
For the people who don't understand why this article should be here, IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT THE "SIDE" CAUGHT LYING WAS TRUMP'S. What does matter is that you practise a profession it comes with moral obligations. That means that doctors have to lookout for various practises that give them incentives to prescribe treatments that are not the best ones for patients, for example. And that videographers have to consider the possibility that their work may be mis-used. Which possibly means re-thinking contracts, keeping copies of files you might not otherwise have, checking that you're legally protected (what if a client alters your work to make someone look bad and you are the one who gets sued?) Etc, etc.
Honestly, adults shouldn't need this kind of stuff pointing out to them...
Spot on.
Alex - you might want to consider adding to the article to point out what should have been obvious, if only to end the whining. Even the people who have no professional ethics should still appreciate the legal implications.
Might be a bit late for this one, but that’s an excellent idea for the next. Thank you!
.
When you make an animated GIF, sometimes frames that look identical get repeated and the blur or tween (between them) can look odd. I don’t have a horse in the whole politics BS, but it is
1-pretty silly to think the gif looks more aggressive objectively than the video, and
2- Ridiculously funny to think a political party “wouldn’t” do this on purpose.
I do think it was random software results, but I do think someone would do this on purpose.
Talk to your neighbors cordially fellow humans, open up and foster a healthy community. We don’t gain from bickering about internet gifs, lose. Look how divided so many become, this random article has 130 comments, meanwhile an article about something that is actually super interesting has 5. Why do we all care so much about stupid crap?
Here's an explanation from the source. Care to comment Alex Cooke?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo7ORobbXPw
Being new here, I started reading this article and thought it would transition into two branches 1 photojpunalism ethics and then a technical discussion of the technology and workflow that produced the anomalies. Where are those discussions?
Well at least a couple of people commented on the technology/workflow so that's something. Shame the expert Shapiro jumped to conclusions with so little thought.