Viewing Journalism as a Work of Art

Copyright lawyers have been arguing over Shepard Fairey's appropriation of a news photograph of Barack Obama for his "Hope" campaign poster and whether it constitutes "fair use." But no one has disputed that it is a work of art. But what about the photograph on which the poster is based? Taken by Mannie Garcia while on assignment for The Associated Press in 2006, the picture is now on sale in a limited edition of 200. The prints are going for $1,200 apiece, and at least one has been purchased by a fine-arts museum.