Dan Gillmor, advocate for citizen-journalism, notes that Wal-Mart policy is to require permission for anyone who wants to take photographs inside one of their stores:
Wal-Mart's policy that all photos taken on its property must be approved in advance includes breaking news coverage, company spokeswoman Christi Gallagher said.We've noted people taking photos and video before, and The Computer Vet has some very nice ones from 2002.The company requires the media - or anyone else - to get approval before taking pictures in Wal-Mart stores or on Wal-Mart property, she said.
Asked if journalists photographing unexpected news, such as a fire, need the same permission, Gallagher said they do.
After hours, a journalist should call the company's 24-hour corporate hotline before taking pictures, she said.
A reader at Dan's links to the discussions at dpreview and PhotoPermit.
Promoters of citizens' media implicitly believe the costs of Wal-Mart's no-photo policy are greater than its benefits. However, they never actually list or discuss its benefits...
Posted by Kevin on January, 19 2005 at 01:43 PM
