Saturday, May 8, 2010

KRAKOW MEDIA IN ACTION

FRIDAY 7th MAY

Just around a corner from the main square and a few metres down a side street, I
came across the TV and newspaper photographers gathering.

Soon there was a media interview in progress with the President (aka Mayor) of
Krakow. Like all politicians he had lots to say. I took the opportunity to
photograph the media news gathers in action. There were several TV cameras
perhaps a dozen still cameras, some radio reporters with labled microphones and
press reporters – some using hand voice recorders and some with pads and pens.
Amazingly the noise of the student revelry in the square did not reach this
event.

After this the President made his formal speech before laying the first wreath.
Half a dowzen other also laid wreaths before a young woman read, what sounded
like, a poem. Right through this she was confronted by media with microphones
and lenses almost touching her face – they were close.

A small crowd spread out over the narrow street while other people just walked
by. Including, of course students in their vareity of costumes. In the middle
of the President's speech a siren blaring ambulance came racing down the street
and the crowd moved in to give it half the roadway. The driver hardly slowed as
he raced past. A few minutes later the process was repeated as the ambulance
raced back the way it had come. The President was still formally speaking –
it was a long speech.

All of this took place in front of a shop where a small easel had been set up
with a picture of a young male and his birt and death dates. He died in 1977.
There were a few red white and blue ribbons around the site.

I can only assume, in the absence of any knowledge, that perhaps this was a hero
of the anti-communist uprisings. But I may be wrong.

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