In case J. Heartfield is out splicing genes or something, here's the Guardian's take on the verdict.]
ITN Bosnia reporters win libel damages
LM magazine pays out £300,000 for 'faked war camp footage' slur
Two ITN reporters accused of faking footage of a Serb-run camp in the Bosnian war were today awarded £300,000 in a libel action against LM magazine.
The magazine, formerly Living Marxism, claimed that Penny Marshall and Ian Williams misrepresented a headline-grabbing image of an emaciated Muslim, Fikret Alic, at the Serb-run Trnopolje camp in August 1992. Ms Marshall and Mr Williams said that LM's article, headed "The picture that fooled the world", amounted to a highly damaging attack upon their reputations and professional integrity.
The two journalists, who were described by their counsel during the two-week trial as "decent, honest and courageous", were each awarded £150,000 - the maximum suggested by Mr Justice Morland - and ITN received £75,000.
In a joint statement after the verdict Ms Marshall and Mr Williams said: "There was never any doubt whatsoever that the allegations made against us were both untrue and unfounded. The reports in question were filmed and presented with the professionalism and integrity that would be expected of us.
"LM was given every opportunity to retract the article and its allegations. Its decision not to do so resulted in our taking legal action in order to clear our names.
"Today's verdict and award clearly vindicates that course of action and, perhaps more importantly, gives dignity to all those who were detained in the camps."
LM's editor, Michael Hume, and publishers Informinc (LM) Ltd and Helene Guldberg, had said during the trial that the criticism of the reporters was justified because they had deliberately selected shots of Mr Alic "caged behind barbed wire" at Serb-run Trnopolje camp in August 1992.
ITN's editor-in-chief Richard Tait said today: "I believe this verdict makes it a good day for British television journalism.
"It is important for many reasons: it clears the names and reputations of Penny and Ian and wholly vindicates our decision to take action against LM over the lies they told about them.
"Penny and Ian's reports of conditions at Trnopolje and Omarska were one of British television journalism's finest achievements in the last 10 years."
© Copyright Guardian Media Group plc. 2000
Carl
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