Mental mayhem: Censoring the Queen

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October 02, 2008

Censoring the Queen

Petra News Agency, Jordan's state news agency, decided to play the role of ultimate censor by altering a photo of Her Majesty Queen Rania of all people. Jordanian blogger Arab Observer exposed Petra's manipulation of the photo! When will Petra News Agency realize that they can't get away with this anymore?

Manipulating photos to make them more culturally acceptable should be a thing of the past because nothing can be hidden or altered these days thanks to an army of citizen journalists that has its eyes open all the time. The Slate original picture is on the left. The Petra 'version' is on the right:

Can you spot the difference? I have to admit, this post made my day. It is really beyond hilarious.

Posted by Natasha at 11:53 AM in Jordan, my nation, Media watch | Permalink | Email this post

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Comments

Oh wow! If I were Queen Rania, I would be going after somebody's head right now :D

Whoever did it, I do not want to be in his/her shoes!

Posted by: Hamzeh N. | Oct 2, 2008 3:22:40 PM | Email this comment

Natasha, it is beyond hilarious! Actually it was a friend of mine who is a fashion designer and a dedicated Queen Rania fan caught it. He sent it to me and I couldn't let it go. I had to publish it!

Posted by: The Observer | Oct 2, 2008 6:12:10 PM | Email this comment

Do you actually think they did it on their own? Don't you think that there are PR experts who work for the queen? As such, the blame is not on petra(even though they suck big time-as everything governmental in jordan does).

Posted by: mohanned | Oct 3, 2008 6:12:17 PM | Email this comment

I don't agree with all the sarcastic comments against Petra manipulating Queem Rania's photo.
Such original images of the Queen can easily be used by Islamic fundementalists to discredit the regime. Remember that the majority of Jordanians still disapprove of women going about with sleeveless dresses. That's part and parcel of Jordanain culture and heritage; so people should not ridicule that and go into denial. Having worked at the Royal Palace as a media advisor, I can acertain that Petra would not have acted on its own without seeking the advice of the Royal Court which iin this case acted sensibly and in the interest of the Royal Family and Jordan.
Abu Taimor

Posted by: Abu Taimor | Oct 4, 2008 5:53:26 PM | Email this comment

I imagine they expected the silent majority for whom they thought the photo needed to be altered doesn't have internet access.

Damn I think I invented a new tense.

Posted by: Hani Obaid | Oct 10, 2008 6:35:14 PM | Email this comment

Hey Natasha,

It might be your queen who asked for this lousy photoshop job, so get over it and stop claiming that Jordan is suddenly an open society that can accept a woman with sleeveless dress. Go milk your goats and don't waste your time pretending that Jordan is a civilized society.

Crock the American.

Posted by: Crock | Nov 5, 2008 7:18:53 PM | Email this comment

It is simple, Jordanians are judgmental people, so as media publicists they have to take this into consideration when publishing photos for Her Majesty at home.

Posted by: Faisal | Nov 6, 2008 10:44:57 PM | Email this comment

"Crock the American", you are a crock, of racist crap.

Posted by: Craig Turner | Nov 28, 2008 4:12:19 PM | Email this comment

I have question to any Jordanian reading this post.

Do you think there is one person in PETRA dares to do so to the queen picture ? I doubt that ...

Another point is about the queen herself. She is the queen of a country where vast majority of people are conservatives and simply she should respect that.

Third point, someone said "Islamic fundementalists to discredit the regime". I dont have to remind you that any Muslim does not accept to see the wife of grandson of prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and don't forget that the hashemite family in Jordan use this relationship to justify their regime and give it more legitimacy... So she should respect that.

Finally, as a person she is free to wear whatever she likes to wear as any other woman, but she is a public figure. And my main point is that on simple things like this they lie imagine what they do on other big and more serious issues that affect our daily life.

wa domtom

Posted by: Mohammad | Dec 30, 2008 10:18:38 AM | Email this comment