How Serious Is the AP About Digital Manipulation? VERY

The Associated Press has killed all images in its archive from freelancer Miguel Tovar after it was discovered he had used Photoshop to remove his own shadow from an image.

The language that AP’s Director of Photography Santiago Lyon used was pretty direct:

There is no indication that Tovar’s other images were manipulated. However, we have severed all relations with Tovar and removed him from the assignment. He will not work for the AP again in any capacity.

In addition, we have removed all of his images from AP Images, our commercial photo licensing division, and its website.

Lesson? Don’t screw around.