The "War Stories" on Halstead's Web page certainly reveal the many situations in which photographers are at the mercy of the White House press office for access to photographs of the President. There are complaints of being called at 6am to take photographs in the rain and of being called to follow the President on long marches to show him a ease as he goes hiking with the family. It is evident that these "photojournalists" are prepared to do what they are told by the government. It may well be that they are only doing what their employers demand but that's why I ask: Is the media controlled by the White House?

-- George Dunbar (gdunbar@idirect.com), December 14, 1998