Me & my shadow

We all know that in news and cinema, getting yourself, and your shadow or reflection (many cases the boom mic,
is simply considered an amateur mistake. Compound that mistake by breaking rules to cover it up, compound that cover up by doing it poorly... I think this does not qualify as a single mistake, but more a comedy of errors....
in the editors shoes I'd have more than a couple questions:

"You call yourself a photographer?"
" You call that photoshopping?""
"Why the hell didn't you take a few more shots WITHOUT your shadow?"
"Why should I stake my reputation as an editor, or this News agencies credibility on you?"
"Who ate the last donut and stuck the empty box back in the fridge? Was that another one of your lousy cover ups?"

Good grief, the guy was taking pictures of a few kids kicking a football about in a dusty field.

The full set of images are here: http://www.watoday.com.au/photogallery/sport/local-football-in-argentina-2011070...

Some nice ones. Nothing too special. This really seems like AP over-reacting to criticism that in the past they have allowed publication of doctored photos of actual news worthy events in a deliberately misleading way. It's up to them how they enforce their own rules but I would have thought withdrawing the shot in question and reminding the photographer of the rules would have been more proportional. They are using the poor hapless guy to send out a message, and it's a shame.

I agree this is a stunt to send a message, and the message is getting heard everywhere. Mission accomplished.

I just don't pity him, or feel he deserved less. The entire industry needs to take a much harder line to protect it's credibility, and believability. Sorry but when it comes to integrity... Cops, Judges, Civic officials, Journalists, priests and Political leaders.... all need to clean up their images and hold themselves to higher standards, than the general public. Sad part is, the photographer was probably lacking in equipment. A longer lens and a few steps backwards, and the shadow issue would've been resolved in camera.... or move to the other side for a different camera angle and dial up some flash to cope with severe backlighting....