12/31/2017 | 24m 23s | Video has closed captioning.
On this edition for Sunday, Dec. 31, the nation confronts severe cold as the year ends, and the number of journalists jailed across the world reaches an all-time high. Also, meet legendary photographer William Wegman and his dogs. Alison Stewart anchors from New York.
Aired: 12/31/17
>> Stewart: ON THIS EDITION FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31: AS THE NEW YEAR IS CELEBRATED AROUND THE WORLD, SEVERE COLD CONTINUES TO GRIP THE NATION.
AND IN OUR SIGNATURE SEGMENT, A VISIT WITH LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER WILLIAM WEGMAN.
NEXT ON PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.
FROM THE TISCH WNET STUDIOS AT LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK, ALISON STEWART.
>> Stewart: GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ARE RINGING IN 2018.
THE CELEBRATIONS KICKED OFF IN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA.
IN SYDNEY, RAINBOW COLORED FIREWORKS MARKED THE PASSAGE OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY THERE, WHILE HONG KONG LIT UP A NEW BRIDGE SET TO OPEN IN THE NEW YEAR.
MANY MAJOR CITIES BALANCED BIG CELEBRATIONS WITH HEAVY SECURITY PROTECTING NEW YEARS REVELERS.
IN PARIS, BERLIN AND LONDON POLICE WERE ON HIGH ALERT AS THEY PATROLLED AND SET UP BARRICADES.
IN NEW YORK, A RECORD NUMBER OF OFFICERS ARE ASSIGNED TO THE TIMES SQUARE FESTIVITIES FOLLOWING A FAILED SUBWAY BOMB PLOT EARLIER THIS MONTH AND A DEADLY TRUCK ATTACK IN OCTOBER.
ALSO, THE CELEBRATION IN TIMES SQUARE IS EXPECTED TO BE THE COLDEST SINCE 1962.
AND PARTS OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA ARE ENDING 2017 WITH WIND CHILLS REACHING INTO THE NEGATIVE 50'S.
IRAN'S GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND IS THREATENING A HARSH CRACKDOWN AFTER MASSIVE PROTESTS THERE TURNED DEADLY.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MARCHING THROUGH CITIES ACROSS IRAN SINCE THURSDAY, PROTESTING ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS AND ALLEGED GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION IN THE NATION'S LARGEST DEMONSTRATIONS SINCE 2009.
TWO PROTESTERS WERE KILLED IN CLASHES WITH POLICE OVERNIGHT IN THE CITY OF DOROUD SOUTHWEST OF TEHRAN.
IN HIS FIRST COMMENTS SINCE THE PROTESTS BEGAN, IRAN'S PRESIDENT HASSAN ROUHANI SAID TODAY PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT TO CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT, BUT THAT DEMONSTRATIONS SHOULD NOT LEAD TO VIOLENCE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AGAIN TWEETED HIS SUPPORT FOR PROTESTERS, SAYING: "THE PEOPLE ARE FINALLY GETTING WISE AS TO HOW THEIR MONEY AND WEALTH IS BEING STOLEN AND SQUANDERED ON TERRORISM.
LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL NOT TAKE IT ANY LONGER."
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM WARNED THAT THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION BEYOND TWITTER.
>> IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO WATCH.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TWEETING VERY SYMPATHETICALLY TO THE IRANIAN PEOPLE.
BUT YOU JUST CAN'T TWEET HERE, YOU HAVE TO LAY OUT A PLAN.
>> Stewart: AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY POLICE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TODAY DURING PROTESTS AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT, JOSEPH KABILA.
DEMONSTRATIONS FOLLOWING SUNDAY CHURCH MASS TURNED VIOLENT AS POLICE FIRED TEAR GAS AND BARRICADED ROADS.
DOZENS OF PEOPLE WERE REPORTEDLY ARRESTED IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF KINSHASA.
PRESIDENT KABILA HAD PROMISED TO STEP DOWN AND HOLD ELECTIONS BY THE END OF 2017, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN DELAYED UNTIL DECEMBER 2018.
SOUTH KOREA HAS SEIZED A SHIP IT SUSPECTS OF VIOLATING U.N. SANCTIONS BY TRADING WITH NORTH KOREA.
THE VESSEL, AN OIL TANKER BEARING PANAMANIAN FLAGS, AND ITS CREW, WERE SEIZED OFF OF SOUTH KOREA'S WESTERN COAST, 42 MILES FROM THE CAPITAL OF SEOUL.
OFFICIALS DID NOT OFFER SPECIFICS OF THE SHIP'S ALLEGED ACTIVITIES.
BUT, JUST THIS PAST FRIDAY, SOUTH KOREAN AUTHORITIES REVEALED THAT THEY HAD SEIZED A HONG KONG-FLAGGED OIL TANKER, SUSPECTED OF TRANSFERRING 600 TONS OF OIL TO A NORTH KOREAN SHIP WHILE AT SEA.
THE U.N.
IMPOSED THE SANCTIONS WHICH LIMIT OIL TRADE WITH NORTH KOREA FOLLOWING RECENT BALLISTIC MISSILE TESTS.
GROUNDBREAKING NEUROSCIENTIST BEN BARRES HAS DIED.
HIS BEST KNOWN WORK INCLUDED STUDYING BRAIN CELLS CALLED GLIA AND THEIR POSSIBLE RELATION TO DISEASES INCLUDING PARKINSON'S AND ALZHEIMERS.
DR. BARRES WAS ALSO TRANSGENDER, AND AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED AS BOTH A FEMALE AND A MALE SCIENTIST, HE WAS AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN HAVING OPPORTUNITY IN THE SCIENCES.
BEN BARRES WAS 63 YEARS OLD.
TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE YEAR IN MUSIC, FROM POPULAR HITS TO OVERLOOKED MOMENTS.
visit pbs.org/newshour.
>> Stewart: POLICE HERE IN NEW YORK ARE INVESTIGATING A POTENTIAL HATE CRIME THAT OCCURRED ON TUESDAY, IN WHICH A GROUP OF TEENAGE GIRLS SPIT ON AND BEAT A HIJAB-WEARING WOMAN AT HER APARTMENT BUILDING.
THE GIRLS ALSO ALLEGEDLY CALLED HER A TERRORIST AND TOLD HER TO GO BACK TO HER COUNTRY.
THAT INCIDENT STANDS OUT BECAUSE THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED.
BUT AS THE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM ORGANIZATION PRO PUBLICA REPORTS, VIOLENT HATE CRIMES OFTEN GO UNREPORTED, AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE DOCUMENTATION OF LOWER-LEVEL INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION.
SO PRO PUBLICA HAS UNDERTAKEN A NEW PROJECT CALLED "DOCUMENTING HATE" TO TRY AND TRACK THIS NATIONAL PROBLEM AND VERIFY REPORTS OF SUCH INCIDENTS.
HERE WITH ME NOW IS RACHEL GLICKHOUSE OF PRO PUBLICA.
SO AS YOU WENT INTO THIS TRYING TO RESEARCH THIS, YOU FOUND OUT IT WAS HARD TO LOOK AT THE DATA BECAUSE THERE WASN'T MUCH DATA, WHY?
>> THE DATA IS VERY BAD.
FIRST OF ALL, 90% OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT LAST YEAR REPORTED ZERO HATE CRIMES TO THE F.B.I.
SAYING NO HATE CRIMES HAPPENED HERE.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS THAT POLICE DON'T ALWAYS GET TRAINING ON HATE CRIMES.
THEY MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO IDENTIFY ONE.
SO WE FOUND A LOT OF CONFUSION ON THE LOCAL LEVEL ABOUT HOW TO IDENTIFY A HATE CRIME, HOW TO TRACK A HATE CRIME, ONLY ABOUT DOZEN STATES REQUIRE POLICE ACADEMIES TO DO A HATE CRIME TRAINING.
>> Stewart: AND NOT ALL STATES EVEN RECOGNIZE HATE CRIMES.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
SO THERE ARE FEDERAL HATE CRIME LAWS THAT COVER THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, BUT FIVE STATES DON'T HAVE ANY HATE CRIME LAWS.
AND SOME STATES DON'T PROTECT EVERY SINGLE GROUP THAT THE FEDERAL LAWS PROTECT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE SOME STATES DON'T COVER L.G.B.T.
HATE CRIMES.
>> Stewart: IS THERE ANY TREND IN TERMS OF HATE CRIMES IN THE PAST YEAR BASED ON EITHER RACE, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION?
>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AGAIN AND AGAIN IS THE "GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY" LINE.
SO WE HAVE SEEN THIS SORT OF, A LOT OF XENOPHOBIC-TYPE INCIDENTS THAT ARE USUALLY HARASSMENT IN NATURE BUT SOMETIMES ARE ASSAULTS AS WELL.
WHERE THAT PHRASE IS USED.
AND IS OFTEN HAPPENING IN SOME OF THESE HARASSMENT INCIDENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN ALL CORNERS OF PUBLIC LIFE, ON THE STREET, SCHOOLS.
>> Stewart: THE PUBLIC NATURE OF IT.
>> YES.
>> Stewart: IT USED TO BE SORT OF PEOPLE LURKED ONLINE AND DID THIS.
BUT NOW IT'S QUITE PUBLIC.
>> YES, IT'S QUITE PUBLIC AND IT'S HAPPENING REALLY EVERYWHERE YOU CAN IMAGINE.
A COUPLE OF CITIES SAW AN INCREASE IN HATE INCIDENTS HAPPENING ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT HAVE BEEN VIDEOTAPED THIS YEAR AND HAVE GONE VIRAL.
SO IT'S REALLY HAPPENING IN ALL PLACES OF PUBLIC LIFE.
AND THIS PHRASE IS SOMETIMES USED IN HARASSMENT WHEN SOMEONE IS ATTACKING ANOTHER PERSON VERBALLY, BUT SOMETIMES THEY ARE ALSO HAPPENING IN MORE SERIOUS CASES.
SO THERE WERE SEVERAL HATE CRIME MURDERS THIS YEAR WHERE THAT PHRASE WAS ALSO USED.
>> Stewart: HOW ARE YOU GETTING YOUR INFORMATION?
>> ONE THING WE ARE DOING IS GOING STRAIGHT TO THE PUBLIC.
ONE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT MORE THAN HALF OF HATE CRIME VICTIMS DON'T REPORT TO POLICE.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN GATHER INFORMATION THAT'S FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS THAT IS NOT EVEN MAKING IT TO POLICE.
SO ON documentinghate.com, WE HAVE A FORM THAT THE PUBLIC CAN FILL OUT IF THEY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OR WITNESS OF A HATE CRIME OR HATE INCIDENT, AND THAT GETS FED INTO A DATABASE, AND A JOURNALIST WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THEM TO VERIFY THEIR STORY.
WE ALSO SENT HUNDREDS OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ASKING FOR THEIR HATE CRIME NUMBERS SINCE 2010, AND THAT IS WHAT WE USED TO COMPARE TO THE F.B.I.
NUMBERS AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE COMING BACK WITH.
AND OUR REPORTING PARTNERS, WE HAVE MORE THAN 130 MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY WORKING WITH US, AND WE GIVE THEM THOSE TIPS COMING IN FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE ALSO WORK WITH CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT GIVE US TIPS THAT THEY CAN FOLLOW UP ON.
AND THESE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST RESPONSES THAT COME BACK TO US SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR CITY.
>> Stewart: AND WE SHOULD MENTION THAT NEWSHOUR IS ONE OF YOUR PARTNERS.
>> YES, INDEED.
>> Stewart: AND SO THE WORK WILL CONTINUE, RACHEL GLICKHOUSE FROM PRO PUBLICA, THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stewart: FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, ARTIST WILLIAM WEGMAN HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING HIS BELOVED DOGS.
THEY'VE APPEARED IN COUNTLESS PUBLICATIONS, POSTERS, AND CALENDARS, AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, WEGMAN'S LATEST BOOK WAS RELEASED, CONTAINING MORE THAN 300 IMAGES SPANNING HIS CAREER.
NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S MEGAN THOMPSON HAS THIS PROFILE IN A STORY WE FIRST BROUGHT YOU IN OCTOBER.
>> Reporter: IF YOU DON'T IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE THIS MAN WALKING HIS DOGS DOWN A NEW YORK CITY STREET YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE THE DOGS.
THIS IS WILLIAM WEGMAN, THE PAINTER, PHOTOGRAPHER AND FILMMAKER FAMOUS FOR THE PHOTOS HE TAKES OF HIS BELOVED PETS.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE FUNNY, BEAUTIFUL, MYSTERIOUS AND ALWAYS ORIGINAL.
THEY'VE GRACED THE PAGES OF COUNTLESS BOOKS AND MAGAZINES AND MUSEUM WALLS FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
WEGMAN SAYS EVEN THOUGH HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DOG PERSON HE DIDN'T SET OUT TO PHOTOGRAPH THEM.
>> MY FIRST WIFE WANTED A DOG, AND I DIDN'T.
I WAS TOO BUSY AS AN ARTIST, BEING AN ARTIST.
>> Reporter: WEGMAN STUDIED PAINTING IN COLLEGE AND GRAD SCHOOL IN THE 1960'S, AND HE STILL PAINTS TODAY, CREATING INTRICATE PAINTINGS THAT INCORPORATE FOUND POSTCARDS.
HE DIDN'T TAKE UP THE PHOTOGRAPHY HE'S BECOME MORE WELL-KNOWN FOR UNTIL AFTER GRAD SCHOOL.
>> I REMEMBER FLIPPING A COIN, BECAUSE I WASN'T REALLY SURE.
THREE OUT OF FIVE, TAILS WE'LL GET A DOG.
AND IT CAME UP FIVE OUT OF FIVE, IT WAS TAILS.
SO, IT WAS DESTINED.
>> Reporter: WEGMAN NAMED HIS DOG AFTER THE ARTIST MAN RAY.
HE WAS A LARGE HUNTING BREED CALLED A WEIMARANER.
>> AND SO I TOOK HIM TO MY STUDIO, WHICH WAS NATURAL.
AND I TOOK HIS PICTURE, WHICH YOU WOULD DO WITH YOUR NEWBORN, OR WHATEVER.
AND IT WAS KIND OF MAGICAL HOW HE BECAME.
HE WAS KIND OF TRANSFORMED BY THE ACT OF PHOTOGRAPHING HIM.
I WAS A LITTLE WEARY OF PHOTOGRAPHING THE DOG BECAUSE IT'S SORT OF A GIMMICK.
AND IT COULD BE CONSTRUED AS BEING LAZY OR WHATEVER.
SO, BUT I KEPT HE KEPT GIVING ME MORE IDEAS.
>> Reporter: AND THE IDEAS JUST KEPT COMING.
AND SO DID THE DOGS.
AFTER MAN RAY, THERE WAS FAY RAY, AND THEN HER OFFSPRING.
WEGMAN HAS WORKED WITH 14 WEIMARANERS IN ALL.
HIS WORK BECAME WILDLY POPULAR.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS SELL FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ARE EXHIBITED ALL OVER THE WORLD.
HE'S PUBLISHED ALMOST 40 BOOKS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 20 CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND A "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST-SELLER ON PUPPIES.
HIS MOST RECENT BOOK CAME OUT THIS FALL: "WILLIAM WEGMAN, BEING HUMAN," THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF HIS WORK EVER PUBLISHED.
THERE ARE VIDEOS AND SHORT FILMS, TOO, STARTING WITH QUIRKY CONCEPTUAL ART VIDEOS FROM THE '70'S, LIKE THIS ONE, WHERE WEGMAN'S TEACHING MAN RAY TO SPELL.
>> AND YOU SPELLED O-U-T RIGHT.
BUT WHEN IT CAME TO BEACH, YOU SPELLED IT B-E-E-C-H. >> Reporter: WEGMAN'S DOGS HAVE APPEARED ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE."
>> OKAY, WHO WANTS TO PITCH?
>> Reporter: AND THEY'VE APPEARED ON "SESAME STREET."
THE WORLD OF HIGH FASHION HAS ALSO EMBRACED THE DOGS-- THIS PAST SUMMER THEY APPEARED IN FRENCH "VOGUE," MODELING CLOTHING BY DESIGNERS LIKE GUCCI.
WEGMAN LIVES AND WORKS IN THE CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF MANHATTAN WITH HIS DOGS FLO AND TOPPER.
>> WELL WE'RE DOWNSTAIRS IN THE BASEMENT WHERE I KEEP THE PROPS.
>> Reporter: HIS BASEMENT IS FILLED WITH DECADES WORTH OF COSTUMES, TRINKETS AND PROPS THAT HE'S USED TO CREATE HIS ELABORATE SCENES.
>> I BELIEVE THIS IS THE JACKET THAT BATTY WORE WHEN SHE WAS WALKING HER MOTHER FAY IN A PIECE I TITLED "DOG WALKER."
>> Reporter: WHERE DO YOU FIND ALL THIS STUFF?
>> WE HAVE A PLACE UPSTATE AND THERE'S STORES THERE, SALVATION ARMY'S AND SO FORTH, THERE'S YARD SALES.
>> Reporter: IN HIS STUDIO UPSTAIRS, WEGMAN AND HIS LONG- TIME ASSISTANT JASON BURCH PREPARE THE SET.
TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THE DOG'S ACTUALLY WEARING THE PANTS, THEY SHAPE THEM WITH PLASTIC AND FOAM AND TAPE THE PANTS DOWN ONTO THE STOOL.
WEGMAN EXPLAINS THAT DOGS ARE NATURALLY GOOD AT STANDING STILL BECAUSE THEY ARE "POINTERS," DOGS BRED TO FREEZE AND POINT TO AN ANIMAL BEING HUNTED IN THE WOODS.
TO GET THIS SHIRT TO FIT RIGHT, WEGMAN CUTS UP THE BACK.
BURCH PROVIDES THE HUMAN HANDS AND ARMS.
WEGMAN HAS TRICKS FOR GETTING THE DOGS TO LOOK WHERE HE WANTS THEM TO.
>> I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED HUMANS.
NOT PROBABLY MY STRENGTH.
I LIKE LOOKING AT AND TOUCHING DOGS.
MOVING THEIR HEAD AROUND, OR GIVING THEM DIRECTION.
THEY EXPECT ME TO TALK TO THEM AND MOVE THEM AROUND.
>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THE DOGS ENJOY THIS WORK?
>> THEY LOVE TO WORK.
THEY LIKE TO BE PICKED.
THEY WANT TO BE THE ONE UP ON- THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND TALKING TO.
YOU DID IT.
THAT'S A HARD ONE.
SUPER GOOD.
IN FACT, I HAVE TO PRETEND-- IF I'M WORKING WITH TOPPER, I HAVE TO PUT FLO NEARBY ON A PEDESTAL SO SHE THINKS SHE'S WORKING.
SHE'S PROBABLY WISE TO THE FACT THAT SHE'S JUST A STAND-IN.
BUT, THAT SECOND-BEST IS OKAY, TOO, IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.
>> Reporter: YOU GET REALLY CLOSE TO THESE DOGS EMOTIONALLY?
>> OH YEAH.
YEAH.
THEY'RE IN ON EVERYTHING, AND I'M NEVER WITH-- WITHOUT THEM.
>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH WEGMAN NOW WORKS WITH DIGITAL CAMERAS, MOST OF HIS CAREER HE WORKED EXCLUSIVELY WITH A 20 BY 24 INCH POLAROID CAMERA.
YOU SAY A POLAROID CAMERA.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A POLAROID THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE AT HOME.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THE CAMERA IS LIKE?
>> THAT CAMERA IS THE SIZE OF A BIG REFRIGERATOR AND IT'S HOUSED IN WOOD AND IT'S QUITE BEAUTIFUL ACTUALLY BUT VERY RICKETY AND FRAGILE.
>> Reporter: ONLY FIVE SUCH CAMERAS WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT.
WHEN WEGMAN WORKED OUTSIDE, HE HAULED THE HUGE CAMERA IN A TRUCK.
THE LARGE SHEETS OF INSTANT FILM COULD BE VIEWED IMMEDIATELY.
SO WEGMAN COULD MAKE THEN CHANGES TO HIS DOGS OR THE SET.
THE CATCH IS THAT THERE'S NO EDITING OR TOUCHING UP THE PHOTOS LATER, SO IF THERE WAS A BLEMISH, WEGMAN EITHER LIVED WITH IT, OR DIDN'T DISPLAY THE PHOTO.
WEGMAN TOOK ABOUT 15,000 PHOTOS WITH THE POLAROID, MANY STORED HERE IN HIS STUDIO.
HE RECENTLY WENT THROUGH EVERY BOX, CATALOGUING AND DIGITIZING EACH IMAGE.
>> AND THE PROCESS WAS PRETTY AMAZING BECAUSE I'VE SEEN EACH DOG GET YOUNGER AND YOUNGER.
THE NEXT WAVE OF DOGS.
AND IT WAS REALLY MOVING.
>> Reporter: THE PROJECT TOOK MORE THAN A YEAR, AND WEGMAN DISCOVERED PHOTOGRAPHS HE'D COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT.
MANY HAD NEVER BEEN SHOWN.
>> HERE'S SOMETHING THAT I'M SLIGHTLY EMBARRASSED ABOUT, BUT.
>> Reporter: WHY ARE YOU EMBARRASSED?
>> I DON'T KNOW DOGS IN SUNGLASSES, IT'S A CLICHE.
>> Reporter: DO YOU TRY TO AVOID CLICHES-- IS THAT SOMETHING YOU STRUGGLE WITH?
>> YOU KNOW I WAS REALLY TORTURED BY THE THOUGHT OF DOING THOSE SORT OF POKER PLAYING DOG KIND OF THINGS THAT SORT OF KITSCH.
I WANTED MY DOGS TO BE-- THEY COULD BE FUNNY BUT THEY HAD ALSO HAD TO BE BEAUTIFUL AND MORE MYSTERIOUS EVEN WHEN I MADE THEM TALL AS PEOPLE.
THIS IS KIND OF FUNNY I JUST NOTICED THAT BUT THERE'S A REFLECTION OF A DOG IN THAT CAN YOU SEE THAT?
THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
>> Reporter: YOU DIDN'T YOU DIDN'T NOTICE THAT BEFORE.
>> NO I NEVER NOTICED THAT.
>> Reporter: THE REDISCOVERY OF THESE ORIGINAL POLAROIDS BECAME THE CATALYST FOR WEGMAN'S LATEST BOOK.
A NEW EXHIBIT OF HIS WORK WILL BE AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART IN NEW YORK IN JANUARY AND A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION WILL LAUNCH NEXT SUMMER.
>> Stewart: AS WE NEAR THE END OF THE YEAR THERE ARE A RECORD NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS BEHIND BARS AROUND THE WORLD.
THE CURRENT TOTAL IS 260, THAT'S A BIT MORE THAN LAST YEAR ACCORDING TO THE ANNUAL SURVEY TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS.
FOR SOME INSIGHT, HARI SREENIVASAN SPOKE WITH ELANA BEISER, THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS.
>> Sreenivasan: SO WHAT IS GOING ON, WHY IS IT AT A RECORD NUMBER?
>> WELL IT IS AS YOU MENTIONED ONLY SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE TOP THREE JAILER COUNTRIES ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THEY WERE LAST YEAR, TURKEY, CHINA AND EGYPT.
AND WE THINK A BIG PART OF THIS IS BECAUSE THOSE THREE COUNTRIES ARE NOT REALLY PAYING ANY KIND OF PRICE, THEY ARE NOT REALLY FEELING ANY PRESSURE.
THEY JAILED ALL THESE JOURNALISTS LAST YEAR.
THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT AND THEY DON'T FEEL ANY INCENTIVE TO CURB THIS BEHAVIOR.
>> Sreenivasan: IN TURKEY THERE WAS SOME POLITICAL UPHEAVAL LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A NEAR COUP ATTEMPT.
SO YOU CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS HAPPENING, THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO PUSH BACK AGAINST PEOPLE IT DOESN'T AGREE WITH.
WHAT ABOUT CHINA AND EGYPT?
>> WELL, EGYPT IS A LITTLE BIT EXPERIENCING A SIMILAR THING, IN THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF POLITICAL UPHEAVAL IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
NOW SISI HAS NOW BEEN IN POWER FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT MANY OF THE JOURNALISTS THERE IN EGYPT HAVE BEEN IN JAIL DATING BACK TO 2013 WHEN THERE WAS THAT CHANGE OF POWER.
AND IN CHINA IT'S JUST A CONSISTENT JAILER WITH THAT VERY TIGHT CONTROL, VERY TIGHT CENSORSHIP OVER THE NEWS MEDIA.
>> Sreenivasan: WHAT IS THE MOST CONSISTENT CHARGE THAT THESE JOURNALISTS ARE ACCUSED OF?
>> THEY'RE ALL-- THREE QUARTERS OF THEM ARE FACING ANTISTATE CHARGES, SO A LOT OF TIME THOSE ARE TERROR LAWS, SOMETIMES THEY ARE STATE SECRETS AND ESPIONAGE, BUT A FULL THREE QUARTERS OF THEM ARE FACING THAT KIND OF CHARGE.
>> Sreenivasan: WHAT KIND OF DUE PROCESS IF ANY DO THEY HAVE?
HOW DO THESE COUNTRIES CARRY THIS OUT?
>> IT IS A VERY COUNTRY BY COUNTRY.
SO IN TURKEY YOU AT LEAST SEE THESE TRIALS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SORT OF SHAM TRIALS AND THE EVIDENCE IS VERY FLIMSY, YOU DO SEE THEM MOVING FORWARD.
AND JOURNALISTS BEING CONVICTED ON THESE ANTI-TERROR CHARGES AND SENTENCED.
IN EGYPT, A SURPRISING NUMBER, I BELIEVE MORE THAN HALF OF THE 20 JOURNALISTS JAILED THERE HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN CONVICTED OR SENTENCED TO A CRIME.
SO SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN JAIL FOR FOUR YEAR WITHOUT TRIAL.
>> Sreenivasan: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE HOME COUNTRIES, SOMETIMES THEY ARE FOREIGN JOURNALISTS THAT ARE WORKING OVERSEAS, WHEN WE SEE GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL MEET WITH A HEAD OF STATE, SOMETIMES IT IS AN AWKWARD KIND OF PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THAT HEAD OF STATE BUT ARE THESE COUNTRIES ADVOCATING FOR THE RELEASE OF THEIR JOURNALISTS?
>> CERTAINLY ANGELA MERKEL HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL BECAUSE THERE IS ONE JOURNALIST IN TURKEY WHO IS A GERMAN-TURKISH CITIZEN WHO WAS WORKING FOR A GERMAN NEWSPAPER, AND SHE AND OTHER GERMAN OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL IN CALLING FOR HIS RELEASE IN PARTICULAR.
BUT MORE BROADLY, CERTAINLY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND TO SOME EXTENT E.U.
LEADERS HAVE NOT PUSHED AS HARD AS THEY CAN.
OBVIOUSLY YOU SEE LEADERS GOING TO CHINA ALL THE TIME LOOKING FOR TRADE DEALS AND YOU DON'T HEAR THEM NECESSARILY RAISING PUBLICLY ISSUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS SUCH AS FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
>> Sreenivasan: DOES THAT END UP HAVING AN IMPACT, DOES THAT END UP MAKING A DIFFERENCE THAT OUR KIND OF GEOPOLITICAL NEEDS END UP COMING IN FRONT OF THE LIVES AND THE CAREERS OF THESE JOURNALISTS?
>> I THINK IT DOES.
I MEAN WE CAN POINT TO INSTANCES IN THE PAST, FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER OBAMA WHERE HE TRAVELED AROUND HIS TRIPS TO ETHIOPIA AND VIETNAM, OFFICIALS PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THOSE GOVERNMENTS TO RELEASE JOURNALISTS IN JAIL AND IT WAS EFFECTIVE.
AND WE DON'T SEE THAT KIND OF PRESSURE HAPPENING NOW UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION.
>> Sreenivasan: SO WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCE?
BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE AS YOU POINT OUT IN YOUR SURVEY, A LOT OF THESE ARE LOCAL JOURNALISTS, THESE AREN'T NATIONALLY PROMINENT JOURNALISTS WITH HUGE TWITTER FOLLOWINGS, THESE ARE PEOPLE KIND OF ON THE FRONT LINES TRYING TO COVER THE NEWS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE VERY WIDE-RANGING CONSEQUENCES, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE LOCAL JOURNALISTS, IN FACT 97% OF THEM ARE, THE LOCAL JOURNALISTS ARE THE ONES WHO FERRET OUT THE NEWS STORIES THAT ARE EVENTUALLY COVERED BY THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS THAT YOU AND I RELY ON FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL NEWS.
SO IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF YOU KNOW, LOCAL STORIES THAT AREN'T GETTING COVERED LOCALLY WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY IS TO THE DETRIMENT OF THOSE POPULATIONS, BUT THESE DAYS NEWS LIKE ALL OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES TRAVEL ACROSS BORDERS AND WE NEED THAT NEWS TO FLOW FREELY.
>> Sreenivasan: WHAT ABOUT THE RISE OF A ACTUAL FAKE NEWS AND ALSO B, KIND OF THE LABELING OF FAKE NEWS BY COUNTRIES?
HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THIS?
>> IT'S EXTREMELY COMPLEX, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THIS YEAR THE NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS IN JAIL ON A LEGAL CHARGE IS USUALLY CALLED FALSE NEWS RATHER THAN FAKE NEWS, IS STILL MODEST IT IS 21 OUT OF OUR 262, IN THIS YEAR'S SURVEY ARE UNDER THOSE KIND OF FALSE NEWS CHARGES, BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY DOUBLE, MORE THAN DOUBLE, WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR.
IT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER WE'VE EVER SEEN.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SHOW A CAUSE AND EFFECT, BUT CERTAINLY IT COMES IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION OF FAKE NEWS.
>> Sreenivasan: ELANA BEISER, FROM THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THIS IS PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND, SUNDAY.
>> Stewart: AND NOW TO VIEWERS LIKE YOU, YOUR CHANCE TO COMMENT ON STORIES YOU'VE SEEN HERE ON PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.
A FEW WEEKS AGO WE BROUGHT YOU THE STORY OF EFFORTS IN LOUISIANA TO INCREASE PATIENT PARTICIPATION IN CLINICAL TRIALS FOR CANCER TREATMENTS.
>> THE TRIALS, AS THEY WERE EXPLAINED TO ME, NOT A CURE.
IT'S JUST ABOUT LIFE EXTENSION.
LIKE, IF THIS WOULD GET YOU AN EXTRA SIX MONTHS, AN EXTRA YEAR, AN EXTRA TWO YEARS.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO CURE FOR WHAT I HAVE, ALL WE CAN DO IS MANAGE.
>> Stewart: CURRENTLY FEWER THAN FIVE PERCENT OF CANCER PATIENTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS CRITICAL STAGE OF RESEARCH.
HERE'S WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY: PAT RANDOLPH TOLD OF HER SUCCESS STORY.
"IN 1979 I BENEFITED FROM TRIALS ON CHEMOTHERAPY CONDUCTED IN ITALY.
I WAS VERY HIGH RISK AND I CREDIT THOSE TRIALS WITH SAVING MY LIFE.
WHILE I WAS VERY ILL FROM THE DRUGS, I'D DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT."
CAROL CONAWAY CAUTIONED, "RESEARCH STUDIES ARE TYPICALLY DESIGNED TO STUDY PEOPLE WITH A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CANCER AND NO COMORBIDITIES.
WHEN REAL LIFE PATIENTS PRESENT WITH MULTIPLE HEALTH CHALLENGES, AS THEY DO IN REAL LIFE, THEY ARE USUALLY CULLED FROM THE PROCESS."
AND FROM BRAD RESTIVO, "ANYONE CONSIDERING EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT SHOULD GO INTO IT KNOWING THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE UNLIKELY TO BENEFIT AND QUITE LIKELY TO SUFFER, BUT THAT THEY MAY CONTRIBUTE TO KNOWLEDGE THAT COULD ASSIST OTHERS IN THE FUTURE."
AND PEGGY SLEMP SAID SIMPLY, "I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET INTO A COUPLE OF TRIALS, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THEM.
SOME DOCTORS DON'T SEEM TO BE REACHING OUT, EVEN IF WE LET THEM KNOW WE WANT TO PARTICIPATE."
AS ALWAYS WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS.
VISIT US AT pbs.org/newshour, ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, OR TWEET US @NEWSHOUR.
>> Stewart: FINALLY, A DEADLY SHOOTING IN COLORADO.
THE DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS CALLING THE ATTACK THAT KILLED ONE DEPUTY AND WOUNDED FOUR OTHERS AN AMBUSH.
AUTHORITIES SAY DEPUTIES WERE RESPONDING TO A DISTURBANCE CALL AND CAME UNDER FIRE IMMEDIATELY AFTER ARRIVING AT THE SCENE.
THE GUNMAN, WHO WAS ALSO KILLED, FIRED MORE THAN 100 ROUNDS.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.
I'M ALISON STEWART.
HAVE A SAFE NIGHT.
