Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Vanishing graphics

Vanishing graphics and creative camera work gave Fox News viewers a better look at the former Miss Canada

The May 10 edition of Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto featured an interview with human rights activist and former Miss Canada Nazanin Afshin-Jam, who spoke against human rights violations in Iran. While Afshin-Jam was on camera, however, the virtually omnipresent text at the bottom of the screen vanished, offering viewers an unobstructed view of Afshin-Jam, wearing a low-cut top. Additionally, as the on-screen text disappeared, the camera pulled back slightly, allowing more of Afshin-Jam's figure to occupy the shot. Immediately after the camera moved from Afshin-Jam, the on-screen text
reappeared.

As Media Matters for America documented, Fox News' coverage of the 78th Annual Academy Awards in 2006 was similarly marked by disappearing on-screen text, offering unobstructed views of female Fox News correspondents and commentators in revealing attire.

At the beginning of host Neil Cavuto's interview with Afshin-Jam, the on-screen text occupied its usual place at the bottom of the screen:

However, it soon disappeared:

Seconds after the text disappeared, the camera pulled back
slightly (see video):

Once the camera shifted from Afshin-Jam, the on-screen text reappeared:

After Cavuto asked, “Do you think that, eventually, we're going to go to war with Iran?” the text remained on the screen when Afshin-Jam reappeared.

—S.S.M.

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