JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Pictures of people on the sand at Jacksonville and St. Johns County beaches drew staunch criticism from people all over the world.
The beaches had been closed to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but Mayor Lenny Curry reopened the beaches for exercise after data showed the curve was flattening in the county.
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Publications like The Washington Post, CBS News, The New York Times, CNN, Fox News and USA Today were critical of people flocking to the beaches, saying beach goers were ignoring social distancing guidelines and the restrictions Mayor Lenny Curry put in place for the beaches’ partial reopening.
Some photos appear to show the latter is true, but other images show sparse beaches with only groups not larger than 10 people breaking the 6 foot social distancing guideline.
In a social media post, WJXT Reporter and Anchor Vic Micolucci explained how camera lenses capture depth differently.
PERSPECTIVE: Jacksonville area journalists are being accused of lying to the public about the images shown of the...
Posted by WJXT4 Vic Micolucci on Sunday, April 19, 2020
Eight photos taken during approximately the same time and near the same stretch of sand demonstrate how beaches can appear crowded in one image while a picture of the same scene, captured with a different camera, makes the crowds appear thinner and more spaced out.
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On Twitter, Major Lenny Curry responded to coverage by national media outlets, saying he believed some national reports were politically motivated.
2. Some National media will not divide us. There are no political parties in response to COVID19 in my city or our state.
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) April 20, 2020