New York Times Runs Graphic Photo Of Starving Somali Child (PHOTO)

The New York Times ran a very graphic photo on its front page Tuesday. The photo, by staff photographer Tyler Hicks, shows a severely malnourished Somali child in a Mogadishu hospital.

While jarring, Times executive editor Bill Keller told The Huffington Post that the decision to publish was "kind of a no-brainer."

During yesterday's 4 p.m. meeting, Keller said that top editors looked a half dozen of Hicks' photos, "all of them arresting." Director of photography Michele McNally selected the photo of the child and Keller said that pick was "pretty much the consensus of the room."

While the U.S. media has focused extensively on the debt deal, Keller explained in an email why editors gave such prominent placement to the Somalia story and compelling photo.

... We realize, of course, that the story du jour is the debt vote — to which we devoted the lead story and upwards of four pages this morning — but there's no reason that has to eclipse a human catastrophe in Africa. Readers can follow more than one important story at a time.

Jeffrey and Tyler went to great trouble and some risk to get as close as they could to the calamity in Somalia. They sent us a harrowing story and vivid, arresting photographs. We put them before the attention of our readers. That's our job.

Decisions to run graphic photos can prove controversial—such as when the Associated Press published a photo of a dead American soldier. But clearly Times editors thought it was the best choice to bring the faraway crisis into focus for readers. The accompanying article, by Jeffrey Gettleman, paints a horrifying picture of the famine in Somalia:

The situation is growing bleaker by the day, with tens of thousands of Somalis already dead and more than 500,000 children on the brink of starvation. Every morning, emaciated parents with emaciated children stagger into Banadir Hospital, a shell of a building with floors that stink of diesel fuel because that is all the nurses have to fight off the flies. Babies are dying because of the lack of equipment and medicine. Some get hooked up to adult-size intravenous drips — pediatric versions are hard to find — and their compromised bodies cannot handle the volume of fluid.

See the front page below.

PHOTO:

Comments

[Fredday]

11:59 AM on 08/04/2011

We (humanity) have no humanity.

We'll spend trillions on wars, and let children starve to death. We are truly monsters.

[tyrant510]

04:52 AM on 08/04/2011

there's a photograph of a child near death and people are making hateful, incendiary comments to forward their own political agendas. have we no shame? i applaud the nyt for making this decision. if they hadn't we wouldn't be talking about it, or even aware of it. this tragedy should be leading the news every night.

[michaellovesnyc]

04:06 PM on 08/03/2011

Somalia; Isn't socialism GREAT ? That kid has free healthcare, free public education, and certainly doesn't have to worry about being exploited by rich greedy capitalists. What a great economic model for our country to follow.

[khali1]

05:31 PM on 08/03/2011

Instead of gloating, can you spare a dollar to save a child? It's easy to mock when you are sitting in the comfort of your chair with all your 300-400lb or possibly more fat weight, biting into your juicy hamburger and look and laugh at this picture, isn't it? And think, "Thank god, it's not my children."

[michaellovesnyc]

02:29 PM on 08/11/2011

I donate a lot of money to Pro-Free Market education groups such as Foundation For Economic Education (FEE) which promotes a REAL SOLUTION instead of "feel good" donations that go to warlords and drug cartels that keep people in that condition. You should be ashamed that you are donating money to criminals that starve children and rape women. But you dont really care ; you just go around boasting how you "helped" by giving a dollar to people that cauise these things to happen.

[blizzard man robot voice]

06:50 PM on 08/03/2011

Cuba is socialist and is nothing like Somalia. China is communist, the scarier version of socialism, and is nothing like Somalia. This has nothing to do with their economic policy. Their dictator was removed in the early 90's and they have had civil wars since then. There isn't an actual acting government. If America was fighting a civil war for 20 straight years, we would be looking just as bad as them.

[michaellovesnyc]

11:27 AM on 08/04/2011

Cuba is mostly socialist but has always had some Capitalism working there; China has adopted many free market reforms and that has eradicated poverty in the past 2 decades. Both Cuba and China have greatly benefitted from having some Capitalism. They would do even better if they allowed more. Somalias dicatator was a socialist and the civil wars are between socialists seeking control as they so often do. It is what happens to all socialist countries eventually. Its a path the United States is on today and we should learn from their mistakes.

[fineartgalaxy]

03:51 PM on 08/03/2011

Where are the proud defenders of families and unborn children? Is this image hard to look at? Or is this image too black and too foreign to look at?

[Always Conservative]

12:21 AM on 08/04/2011

Where is YOUR President on this???

[Scott Fraley]

02:10 PM on 08/04/2011

He's having his foreign aid money cut for the deficit. I'm sure this young child will understand.

[abhorson]

01:32 AM on 08/04/2011

wow... I "defend" (don't know that is the right term) families and children (including unborn ones).

And, YES, it is a very hard image to look @ ... and it isn't too black (it hadn't crossed my mind and seems like a strange idea) or too foreign, unless "foreign" means non-human to someone.

And, I have been to Africa, and felt nothing negative towards anyone, ever ... well, except the policemen who kept beating up our drivers but another story for another time.

[fineartgalaxy]

03:42 PM on 08/03/2011

If we and those who can do not help these people there is a lot to say about the human race. And it isn't good. I know they have not been friendly to us, to say the least. But most likely our enemies are the ones suffering the least. Look at the picture. Is he against our enemy?

[madcityy]

03:09 PM on 08/03/2011

this s/b on the front page everyday.....we need to know what we r heading for in the usa....

[abhorson]

01:34 AM on 08/04/2011

no, because it would desensitize people even to this .... first there would be outrage, then nerves would fray and people would argue... then there would be a reality show (or 5) until ratings sagged ...

then it would be replaced by Kim's butt again...

[Scott Fraley]

02:12 PM on 08/04/2011

disgusting, is it not

[janiejones]

02:34 PM on 08/03/2011

It's really shocking to see so many hateful comments here, either saying "they brought it on themselves," or "we have our own problems." Yet so many Bible thumpers come out of the woodwork here screaming about the sanctity of life whenever the topic is abortion rights. Doesn't make sense to me and seems decidedly "un-christian" to not want to help when the suffering and death is of this magnitude
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43841708/ns/nightly_news/t/famine-horn-africa-how-help/

[RageVsMachine]

03:11 PM on 08/03/2011

sanctified in the womb. kicked to the curb when they pop out.

[michaellovesnyc]

04:22 PM on 08/03/2011

Christians are on the forefront of helping people everyday. You lie. The laziest Christian does more in a day to help the poor than 1000 liberals in their lifetimes.

[J5K]

06:28 PM on 08/03/2011

What an ignorant statement! The vast majority of philanthropy originates with liberals. And while I think Christians (or members of any other religion) are somewhat simple-minded and foolish - the fact remains that many Christians are liberal. Conservatives do not own religion, or morality, or good deeds. If anything, as evidenced by the legislation they put forth, conservatives get in the way of good deeds. I'd say nice try, but you gave the same week response any other dittohead would give. Shame on you, for not even trying!

[blizzard man robot voice]

06:40 PM on 08/03/2011

What world do you live in where liberals can't be Christian? I'm liberal and definitely Christian.

[collierthanthou]

01:51 PM on 08/03/2011

Do they sell the NYT in Iowa?

[michaellovesnyc]

04:20 PM on 08/03/2011

Do people in Iowa know how to read ?

[jsern]

01:48 PM on 08/03/2011

Sorry NYT , conservatives only feel sorry for a fetus

[abhorson]

01:17 AM on 08/04/2011

Bury the hatchet, Little Feather ... I think anyone can feel compassion for a starving child.

[Susann Arber Simpson]

12:53 PM on 08/03/2011

And Steve King fears birth control will make us a dying civilization? Thank you to the NYT for finally bringing real news to the front page where it can't be easily dismissed.

[canadagirl76]

07:09 PM on 08/03/2011

Great point about Steve King

[Halcyone]

12:26 PM on 08/03/2011

I've donated money to Haiti, The Manute Bol Foundation, The Japan Sunami, but I feel it never is enough. I don't have alot, but I try to give where it is most needed.

Somalia has been a failed state for too long, plus they didn't want American assistance back during the Clinton adminstration. They ended up fighting American soldiers for what, to end up in the deplorable state it is in right now.

The guerillas forces don't want their starving people saved. If aid organizations were accepting donations for Somalia today, I would send it. But the situation in Somalia does not guarantee my donation will go to the right cause.

[stateretiree]

01:06 PM on 08/03/2011

I just donated to UNICEF for relief efforts of those escaping the drought and famine.

[michaellovesnyc]

04:08 PM on 08/03/2011

The socialist dictators that caused people like this to die appreciate it ! Thank you !

[nasknit]

05:46 AM on 08/17/2011

Do some research. Most UN organizations are rife with corruption, and have a major scandal a couple times a decade, at the very least.

[janiejones]

02:24 PM on 08/03/2011

You wrote: "If aid organizati­ons were accepting donations for Somalia today, I would send it."

Here is a link to a list of charitable organizations fighting famine in the Horn of Africa.

We must not succumb to "donor fatigue"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43841708/ns/nightly_news/t/famine-horn-africa-how-help/

[BVictor1]

12:22 PM on 08/03/2011

When will this 'exceptional' country do something to help these dying people?

We'd rather worry about a tax break for millionaires and billionaires.

Seems to me that have a little spare change to help the dying population of Somalia. Hope they use that corporate jet tax break wisely.

[LibRule]

02:21 PM on 08/03/2011

While I laud the sentiment- and TOTALLY agree the tax breaks for millionaires should go- we do have starving children in the US that need to be taken care of. They should be government's responsibility. If individuals want to give to Somalia and relief organizations, good (I do give to UNICEF), but the government needs to use our tax dollars to take care of out problems first. JMO

[michaellovesnyc]

04:19 PM on 08/03/2011

Yes its Capitalisms fault that Socialism fails. We need more socialism !

[michaellovesnyc]

04:10 PM on 08/03/2011

I believe we have sacrificed hundreds of thousands of our boys to fight for freedom and capitalism so people would not starve. Were you in the military ? Do you support socialism or freedom ?

[J5K]

06:29 PM on 08/03/2011

Freedom and socialism are not mutually exclusive. And our boys did not die for capitalism. Yet another fail. Keep trying.

[abbadabba]

12:06 PM on 08/03/2011

I don't want to jump the gun, but you fols are discussing this horrific picture of human suffering, but a fistual freaks you out? Get a spine, Mod Squad!

[BarryWolk]

12:06 PM on 08/03/2011

Good!! I'm glad that the NYTimes printed this photo!

It's unconscionable that there is so much wealth in this world and we can let CHILDREN starve like this! And, the baggers will scream bloody murder that ANY of our $$ goes to these kids.

What a crazy world we live in today…

[wl944s]

06:49 PM on 08/03/2011

It is not the "teabaggers" that would complain about helping these kids in Somalia, it is the selfish liberals who feel they are the downtrodden and the only one's worthy of help. Libs are the ones who complain about sending money to foreign causes when there are "millions of starving kids" here in the USA. Plus, our Welfare recipients need the money for tattoos, alcohol, drugs and 22 inch rims for their hoopies.

[KIVPossum]

11:58 AM on 08/03/2011

Good for them for printing the photo. People hear something on TV, then let it slip out of their mind and never realize the horror and suffering.