English/Nat

The Hollywood actor George Clooney railed against tabloid journalists on Tuesday, as the world continues to mourn the loss of Princess Diana.

Clooney has been extremely outspoken in the past about his distaste for the paparazzi and Tuesday's press conference was no exception.

George Clooney angrily marched into a room chock full of the people he dislikes the most - the media and in particular, the paparazzi.

Well known for his distaste of "stalking photographers", Clooney has called for a boycott on programmes like "Entertainment Tonight" until they give celebrities more privacy.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"My first reaction has been to stay out of this. I want to be fair to the Princess. This is not about me. But as I sit in front of my TV listening to tabloid journalists and editors dodging their own responsibility and placing the blame on the drunken driver or society or Princess Di, I now feel that the only fair thing I can do is stand up and make one clear, concise statement. Stand up and ask this: To the self-appointed spokesman Steven Coz, the editor of the National Enquirer, and to all other tabloids positioning themselves as innocents, Princess Di is dead. And who should we see about that? The driver of the car? The paparazzi? Or the magazines and papers who purchase these papers and make bounty hunters out of photographers?"

SUPER CAPTION: George Clooney

Clooney went on to call for a change in libel laws - in particular those that deal with malicious intent.

He then put forward a challenge to the media.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Legitimate news sources like the Los Angeles Times and network news should draw a clear line in the sand. Do not purchase your news. Do not use tabloids as a source. You define the difference between tabloid and legitimate news. Do your job. Inform responsibly. And as for you Mr. Coz, and your colleagues. The Princess of Wales is dead and you have gone on television and you have washed your hands and you have placed blame and you have deflected responsibility and I wonder how you sleep at night. You should be ashamed. Thank you."

SUPER CAPTION: George Clooney

The actor quickly made his way through the media throng without answering questions.

Los Angeles, California, USA September 2, 1997

1. George Clooney enters the press conference

2. Cutaway cameraman

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) George Clooney

4. Cutaway of reporters

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) George Clooney

6. Clooney exits the room

7. Cutaways of various reporters

8. Various shots of reporters picking up a press release.

STORY

USA: MEDIA INTEREST BLAMED FOR DEATH OF PRINCESS DIANA

English/Nat

Princess Diana, her companion Dodi Fayed, and their driver were killed in a car crash in Paris on Sunday as paparazzi trailed them.

The photographers, six Frenchmen and a Macedonian, have been placed in police custody.

And now French authorities are trying to determine whether the seven were at all to blame for the crash in the Paris tunnel

But whatever judgement police reach, many around the world have already come to a decision: that the media, with its relentless pursuit of Diana was in some way responsible for the tragedy.

The public could not get enough.

Everywhere she went we wanted a glimpse, a chance to see the woman who brought sparkle to the British monarchy.

And always waiting for Princes Diana, at home and abroad, were the photographers.

With their cameras in overdrive, they catalogued her movements for a public with a seemingly insatiable hunger for all things Diana.

And even with her death that appetite has not diminished.

In New York, with the news of Diana's death, Newsweek magazine scrapped its planned cover and started again.

This week's edition will feature a black-and-white photo of a smiling Princess of Wales.

Inside, the headline will read, "The Woman We Loved".

Now, many are wondering if perhaps we loved her too much.

Princess Diana had frequently complained that she was too much in the public eye.

But Newsweek editor, Jon Meacham says while the circumstances surrounding her death are tragic, that there were times when Diana used the media to serve her own purposes.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Whether it's Mrs. Kennedy, or Di, or Grace Kelly, or a first lady, whoever it might be, often have a very set agenda and are quite aware of how the game is played. That is they have reporters in to lunch. They stage manage public appearances for maximum benefit. This is a two-way street. And, it's quite rare for someone who genuinely wishes to be completely private to be invaded."

SUPER CAPTION: Jon Meacham, National Editor for Newsweek

Outside Rockefeller Centre in New York, people stopped to read the digital displays saying paparazzi may have been involved in the accident.

Aubrey Reuben is celebrity photographer, but is not a member of the paparazzi, the commercial photographers who have trailed Diana since she entered the public eye.

Reuben says he always asks permission before taking celebrity shots.

He's snapped Sylvester Stallone, Michael Jackson, and Princess Diana.

Reuben says the paparazzi is not to blame for the Princess' death.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"They definitely did not murder Princess Diana. Princess Diana died in an automobile crash because her driver was speeding and couldn't control the car. That's the reason for the death of Princess Diana. Why he was speeding is not our concern. No one murdered Princess Diana."

SUPER CAPTION: Aubrey Reuben, Photographer

Princess Diana was not the only target of the paparazzi.

They have been stalking movie stars for decades.

In May, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver were ambushed and trapped between two cars driven by paparazzi.

Actor George Clooney, has also clashed with the photographers.

Upset about a broadcast on his girlfriend, Clooney urged a boycott of Paramount Pictures Television Group because of its tabloid-style TV shows' use of "video paparazzi" footage.

Tom Cruise is another star who has been pursued at high speed by photographers, desperate for a picture.

In the aftermath of Diana's death, he is urging stronger laws to stop the harassment.

On Sunday, Michael Jackson urged the public to reject aggressive tactics, saying, "the world's acceptance of this practice, if it continues, will accelerate tragedies of this magnitude".

While Aubrey Reuben does not think the paparazzi are to blame, he does not condone their ruthless tactics.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"These paparazzi are people who are uneducated, who have no jobs. They are vulgar, violent, disgusting and this is a way they can make money."

SUPER CAPTION: Aubrey Reuben, Photographer

However although many are outraged at the media's pursuit of Diana, George Washington University Professor, Clay Warren says the press is not entirely to blame for the current state of affairs.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Well, it's hard to point a casual finger at the media alone to say toward the paparazzi in this case who are one small element of the media question. But, they're to blame because I believe it's a combination of people playing that role in our society as well as the cultural issue, and the demand for such a role. If the demand weren't there, then paparazzi wouldn't have the job that they do. So, media are to some extent to blame, but I think it's a larger issue of our culture."

SUPER CAPTION: Clay Warren, Professor of Communication, George Washington University.

Sources close to the investigations into the car crash in which the Princess of Wales died say police seized about 20 rolls of film from the paparazzi at the scene.

And speculation abounds as to whether tourists or bystanders may also have snapped pictures.

However, in the hours after her death, images of the dying princess appear to be untouchable.

On Sunday, newspapers and tabloids were quick say that they would not use image of the deadly accident.

The editor of the American tabloid National Enquirer said photographs of the accident had been offered to his newspaper for 250-thousand dollars.

Steven Coz told N-B-C that the Enquirer would not buy them, and urged the world's press not to either.

Many who are mourning Diana say they would not look at such photos.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"In my moment of anger, I would just like to raid all of the grocery stores. And take all of those horrible magazines and make a big bonfire."

SUPER CAPTION: Luann Trumbull.

But Clay Warren says that while the grief is fresh, and real, it will probably not prevent the photos from eventually being published and hungrily viewed by the public.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"The outrage will be intense, felt but unfortunately transitory. I don't really think that this outrage will change the way, or the direction our culture is heading which, If I have to say it in a word junk food, junk images, junk culture."

SUPER CAPTION: Clay Warren, Professor of Communication, George Washington University.

So while the world debates who is at fault in Diana's death, one man who mourns her said what may be closest to the truth.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Unfortunately there's a portion of all of us to blame because of our fascination."

SUPER CAPTION: Jim Hutchinson

The world's fascination with Diana may not have come to an end but there will be no new images of the world's most photographed woman, only memories.

SHOWS

New York and Washington DC, USA 31 August 1997 and file

File: Chicago, USA, June 4, 1996

1. Wide shot Diana walks up steps with photographers

2. Mid shot photographers

New York, USA, 31 August 1997

3. Close up of Diana on the cover of Newsweek

4. Close up of Newsweek article headline "The Woman We Loved"

5. Mid shot Newsweek editor at desk, zoom in to computer

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jon Meacham, National Editor for Newsweek

7. Mid shot of people outside Rockefeller Center reading crawl that says Diana was chased by paparazzi, pull out

8. Close up man reads craw

9. Mid shot photographer Aubrey Reuben shows off his photos

10. Close up photo of Sylvester Stallone, photo of Michael Jackson

11. Close up Reuben's photo of Princess Diana

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Aubrey Reuben, Photographer

File: Los Angeles, USA June 13, 1997

13. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver

14. George Clooney

File: Los Angeles, USA 1997

15. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman

16. Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor

New York, USA August 31 1997

17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Aubrey Reuben, Photographer

File: Washington, DC, USA, June 17, 1997

18. File of Princess Diana

Washington, DC, USA, August 31, 1997

19. SOUNDBITE: (English)Clay Warren, Professor of Communication, George Washington University

New York USA, August 31, 1997

20. Close up of New York Post with Diana on cover

21. Mid shot Man looks at papers

Washington, DC, USA, August 31, 1997

22. SOUNDBITE: Luann Trumbull

23. Mid shot man places flowers at British Embassy

24. Close up woman grieves

25. SOUNDBITE: (English) Clay Warren, Professor of Communication, George Washington University

26. More shots of flowers at British Embassy

27. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Hutchinson

File: New York USA, June 1997

28. Diana

HEATHER MILLS TESTIFIES ABOUT PHONE HACKING

Heather Mills, the former model who was once married to Paul McCartney, testified forcefully on Thursday (9 FEB. 2012) that there was no doubt her phone had been hacked by a UK journalist.

Speaking before a judge-led inquiry into British media ethics, Mills said dozens of messages between her and the former Beatle were intercepted by a journalist working for British newspaper group Trinity Mirror.

She said the incident happened after a fight she and McCartney had had in January 2001, when McCartney, then her boyfriend, bombarded her with phone calls.

The messages left for Mills by McCartney are at the centre of the allegations against CNN star interviewer Piers Morgan, who is a former editor of the Daily Mirror tabloid.

She recalled that there were "about 25 messages" asking for forgiveness and that McCartney had even sang on one of the messages.

She said she found it strange that the messages were listed as having been listened to even before she had accessed them, but said she didn't realise what had happened until the journalist, unnamed for legal reasons, called her up and confronted her with details.

"I said: 'there's no way that you could know that unless you have been listening to my messages', and he laughed," she told the inquiry.

The lawyer assisting the inquiry was quick to point out that the journalist involved was not a Daily Mirror journalist or working under the supervision of Morgan at the time.

However in 2006, Morgan wrote that he had once been played an apologetic message left by McCartney for Mills, describing it in detail and noting that McCartney even sang 'We Can Work It Out' on the message.

Called before the U.K. inquiry last year, Morgan denied ordering anyone to hack a phone or writing stories based on hacked messages.

He acknowledged listening to Mill's voicemail message but stubbornly refused to say anything about how he had gotten it.

Morgan even left open the possibility that the voicemail had been played to him with Mills' approval, but Mills said Thursday that was impossible.

"Never," she said. "Never ever."

Mills married the popular McCartney in 2002 and had a daughter with him before they divorced in 2008.

She sought and got a substantial divorce settlement, becoming a tabloid hate figure after they separated.

She is a fierce critic of tabloid journalists in general and Morgan in particular.

Earlier the inquiry heard from the founder of photo agency 'Big Pictures', Australian Darryn Lyons.

Lyons, who wrote a book entitled "Mr Paparazzi: My Life as the World's Most Outrageous Celebrity Photographer," defended his industry's employees and the practice of confronting celebrities in the street.

"I don't agree that people should be hounded up and down the street all day in any shape or form, but I do agree that people, as a part of historical.. as a part of history, should be photographed in public places - absolutely and I'm adamant about it. We have free press and a free press should be able to work in public places," he said.

The Leveson inquiry was set up in the wake of Britain's tabloid phone-hacking scandal, which shocked the country with revelations that journalists at Rupert Murdoch's News of the World routinely eavesdropped on the private communications of those in the public eye.

Several journalists have been arrested, top media executives have resigned, and Murdoch closed the 168-year-old tabloid in July.

1. Wide of former model Heather Mills being called to give evidence and walking to the stand

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Heather Mills, former model and ex-wife of musician Paul McCartney:

"And he (journalist unnamed for legal reasons) said: 'Look Heather you know we've heard that you and Paul had an argument and I've just heard a message of him singing on the phone to you asking for forgiveness' and I said: 'There is no way that you could know that unless you've been listening to my messages' and he laughed. And I said: 'I promise you if you report this story, even though it's true, you've obtained the information illegally and I will do something about it'. And he never reported the story."

3. Wide of inquiry room

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Heather Mills/Former Model and Ex-Wife of musician Paul McCartney:

(Robert Jay/Lawyer for the Leveson Inquiry: Did you authorise Mr (Piers) Morgan to access your voicemail?)

"Never."

(Robert Jay/Lawyer for the Leveson Inquiry: Did you authorise Mr Morgan to listen to your voicemails?)

"Never ever."

(Robert Jay/Lawyer for the Leveson Inquiry: And have you ever played to Mr Morgan or authorised him to listen to a recording of this or any other voicemail left on your messaging system?)

"Never, never."

(Lord Justice Brian Leveson/Chair of the Inquiry: If we need to go one stage further have you ever done that in relation to anybody?)

"No."

5. Wide of inquiry room

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Darryn Lyons/Founder of "Big Pictures" photo agency

"I don't agree that people should be hounded up and down the street all day in any shape or form, but I do agree that people, as a part of historical.. as a part of history, should be photographed in public places - absolutely and I'm adamant about it. We have free press and a free press should be able to work in public places."

7. Wide of inquiry room

SHOTLIST

1. Wide of former model Heather Mills being called to give evidence and walking to the stand

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Heather Mills, former model and ex-wife of musician Paul McCartney:

"And he (journalist unnamed for legal reasons) said: 'look Heather you know we've heard that you and Paul had an argument and I've just heard a message of him singing on the phone to you asking for forgiveness' and I said: 'there is no way that you could know that unless you've been listening to my messages' and he laughed. And I said: 'I promise you if you report this story, even though it's true, you've obtained the information illegally and I will do something about it'. And he never reported the story."

3. Wide of inquiry room

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Heather Mills, former model and ex-wife of musician Paul McCartney:

(Robert Jay, Lawyer for the Leveson Inquiry: Did you authorise Mr (Piers) Morgan to access your voicemail?)

"Never."

(Robert Jay, Lawyer for the Leveson Inquiry: Did you authorise Mr Morgan to listen to your voicemails?)

"Never ever."

(Robert Jay, Lawyer for the Leveson Inquiry: And have you ever played to Mr Morgan or authorised him to listen to a recording of this or any other voicemail left on your messaging system?)

"Never, never."

(Lord Justice Brian Leveson, Chair of the Inquiry: If we need to go one stage further have you ever done that in relation to anybody?)

"No."

5. Wide of inquiry room

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Darryn Lyons, founder of photo agency 'Big Pictures':

"I don't agree that people should be hounded up and down the street all day in any shape or form, but I do agree that people, as a part of historical.. as a part of history, should be photographed in public places - absolutely and I'm adamant about it. We have free press and a free press should be able to work in public places."

7. Wide of inquiry room

STORYLINE:

Heather Mills, the former model who was once married to Paul McCartney, testified forcefully on Thursday that there was no doubt her phone had been hacked by a UK journalist.

Speaking before a judge-led inquiry into British media ethics, Mills said dozens of messages between her and the former Beatle were intercepted by a journalist working for British newspaper group Trinity Mirror.

She said the incident happened after a fight she and McCartney had had in January 2001, when McCartney, then her boyfriend, bombarded her with phone calls.

The messages left for Mills by McCartney are at the centre of the allegations against CNN star interviewer Piers Morgan, who is a former editor of the Daily Mirror tabloid.

She recalled that there were "about 25 messages" asking for forgiveness and that McCartney had even sang on one of the messages.

She said she found it strange that the messages were listed as having been listened to even before she had accessed them, but said she didn't realise what had happened until the journalist, unnamed for legal reasons, called her up and confronted her with details.

"I said: 'there's no way that you could know that unless you have been listening to my messages', and he laughed," she told the inquiry.

The lawyer assisting the inquiry was quick to point out that the journalist involved was not a Daily Mirror journalist or working under the supervision of Morgan at the time.

However in 2006, Morgan wrote that he had once been played an apologetic message left by McCartney for Mills, describing it in detail and noting that McCartney even sang 'We Can Work It Out' on the message.

Called before the U.K. inquiry last year, Morgan denied ordering anyone to hack a phone or writing stories based on hacked messages.

He acknowledged listening to Mill's voicemail message but stubbornly refused to say anything about how he had gotten it.

Morgan even left open the possibility that the voicemail had been played to him with Mills' approval, but Mills said Thursday that was impossible.

"Never," she said. "Never ever."

Mills married the popular McCartney in 2002 and had a daughter with him before they divorced in 2008.

She sought and got a substantial divorce settlement, becoming a tabloid hate figure after they separated.

She is a fierce critic of tabloid journalists in general and Morgan in particular.

Earlier the inquiry heard from the founder of photo agency 'Big Pictures', Australian Darryn Lyons.

Lyons, who wrote a book entitled "Mr Paparazzi: My Life as the World's Most Outrageous Celebrity Photographer," defended his industry's employees and the practice of confronting celebrities in the street.

"I don't agree that people should be hounded up and down the street all day in any shape or form, but I do agree that people, as a part of historical.. as a part of history, should be photographed in public places - absolutely and I'm adamant about it. We have free press and a free press should be able to work in public places," he said.

The Leveson inquiry was set up in the wake of Britain's tabloid phone-hacking scandal, which shocked the country with revelations that journalists at Rupert Murdoch's News of the World routinely eavesdropped on the private communications of those in the public eye.

Several journalists have been arrested, top media executives have resigned, and Murdoch closed the 168-year-old tabloid in July.

USA: LOS ANGELES: GEORGE CLOONEY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST PAPARAZZI

(60990)

APTV

Los Angeles, California, USA September 2, 1997

1. George Clooney enters the press conference

2. Cutaway cameraman

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) George Clooney

"My first reaction has been to stay out of this. I want to be fair to the Princess. This is not about me. But as I sit in front of my TV listening to tabloid journalists and editors dodging their own responsibility and placing the blame on the drunken driver or society or Princess Di, I now feel that the only fair thing I can do is stand up and make one clear, concise statement. Stand up and ask this: To the self-appointed spokesman Steven Coz, the editor of the National Enquirer, and to all other tabloids positioning themselves as innocents, Princess Di is dead. And who should we see about that? The driver of the car? The paparazzi? Or the magazines and papers who purchase these papers and make bounty hunters out of photographers?"

4. Cutaway of reporters

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) George Clooney

"Legitimate news sources like the Los Angeles Times and network news should draw a clear line in the sand. Do not purchase your news. Do not use tabloids as a source. You define the difference between tabloid and legitimate news. Do your job. Inform responsibly. And as for you Mr. Coz, and your colleagues. The Princess of Wales is dead and you have gone on television and you have washed your hands and you have placed blame and you have deflected responsibility and I wonder how you sleep at night. You should be ashamed. Thank you."

6. Clooney exits the room

7. Cutaways of various reporters

8. Various shots of reporters picking up a press release.

SHOTLIST

1. People walking on Rodeo Drive, upmarket shopping street in Los Angeles

2. Close up Rodeo Drive Sign

3. Wide of Rodeo Drive

4. Medium of Rodeo Drive shop

5. Luxury cars driving down street

6. Australian tourists in street

7. Close up of photo of David and Victoria Beckham

8. Children gathered round photo

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Paul Ivars, Australian tourist:

"We just heard the news this morning, in fact the kids told us and it was just ah, absolutely unbelievable. Big call for, big call for Beckham and Posh. You're going to have probably one of the best football personalities in your town. It's going to be awesome for football in America, I guess."

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter and Sue Davis, British tourists:

Peter: "I don't know how they cope with the football out here."

Sue: "You don't play soccer out here, do you?"

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Jenny Roche, Los Angeles resident:

"Um, that's cool, they're both a little crazy, but that's cool."

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Ross, US tourist:

"I heard it on the news this morning.

(Reporter: "What do you think about that?")

"I am fired up. I don't live in LA, but I may move here just for that."

13. Close up of photo of Beckhams

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop:

(Reporter: "Do you know who these people are?")

"Uh, no, no."

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Susan Yamini, Los Angeles resident:

"Oh, that's right. Wow. She looks very different."

(Reporter: "They're moving from the UK to Los Angeles.")

"They are?"

(Reporter: "Yes.")

"That's sad."

16. Mid shot of Beverly Hills sign, upmarket area of Los Angeles

17. Driving shot of palm trees

18. Driving shot of Beverly Hills houses

19. Pull out to show large Beverly Hills house

20. Wide of brick mansion

21. Wide of Beverly Hills mansion

22. Wide of Beverly Hills mansion

23. Pan from palm tree to exterior of Frederic Fekkai Salon

24. Interior of Frederic Fekkai Salon

25. Close up of hairstylist brushing out woman's hair

26. Close up of woman getting hair coloured, pans to stylist

27. Woman getting hair coloured

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jessica Tingley, Frederic Fekkai Salon:

"We have every treatment they can have. And it's not just going to a regular salon and getting your hair washed and, you know, getting it cut and blown out. We're like going to the finest hotel. We're catering to every need, you know, your nails, every single thing is done to the utmost of perfection with quality and our standards are incredibly high."

29. Tingley styling a client's hair

30. Tilt down from Harry Winston sign to show monogrammed front doors of jeweller's shop

31. Close up of diamond-studded necklace in Harry Winston window

32. Close up of elaborate diamond necklace

33. Wide of Rodeo Drive

STORYLINE:

David Beckham, the most widely recognised football player on the planet - fashion icon, tabloid fixture, marketing giant - announced a deal on Thursday to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS).

Beckham turned down a two-year contract extension from Real Madrid, where his fading skills have left him on the bench for most of this season.

The Galaxy didn't say exactly what they'll pay him, but floated a figure of 250 million dollars in salary and commercial endorsements over the five years of his contract.

In other words, his move could be worth 1 million dollars a week.

The MLS season opens in April but Beckham is not expected to join the team until August. His four-year contract with Madrid expires at the end of this season.

His Galaxy deal was negotiated over 10 days by major entertainment industry players Simon Fuller, creator of "American Idol," and Creative Artists Agency, home to some of Hollywood's biggest actors.

Fuller manages both Beckham and his pop star wife, Victoria, former member of all-female pop group The Spice Girls.

Victoria Beckham has expressed a desire to launch a Hollywood career.

He opened a soccer academy at the Galaxy's stadium complex last year, and she was photographed house-hunting in the area.

The couple have two sons, Brooklyn and Romeo.

Drawing paparazzi like movie stars, Beckham and his wife regularly find their way onto tabloid and magazine covers.

David is the epitome of the modern celebrity-athlete - he's David Beckham Inc., a multinational corporation with links to Pepsi,Gillette, Motorola and Adidas.

The United States is the last - and biggest - market where Beckham's cult of personality has little sway.

A superstar whose movements have convulsed Asian capitals and helped sell millions of European tabloids has been able to walk American streets in relative anonymity.

In Los Angeles, Beckham will be raising the profile of an average team in a soccer league that has little respect overseas.

The Beckham effect was felt immediately: The Galaxy sold 1,000 new season tickets on Thursday.

The team averages about 22,000-24,000 fans in its 27,000-seat stadium in suburban Carson, although attendance was down last season when the Galaxy missed the playoffs.

Already in the works is a 2008 Galaxy tour of Asia, where Beckham is wildly popular. A new team logo will be unveiled this summer, and the Galaxy's owner is nearing a deal to slap a prime sponsor's name on its jerseys.

Beckham, who has failed to win any major titles in three seasons in Madrid, said the time was right for a change.

English/Nat

Paparazzi refused to shoot pictures of George Clooney at Monday's New York opening of his new movie: "The Peacemaker".

They stood together quietly to protest against the actor's criticism of photographers who chase stars. Some also booed.

Only a few flashbulbs - mostly belonging to fans - went off as the "E-R"

and "Batman and Robin" star arrived.

Boos broke out when George Clooney appeared at the Manhattan premiere of his latest action drama, "The Peacemaker."

After Clooney's bitter protest of the press role in Princess Diana's death last month, many photographers showed up specifically not to photograph the actor.

At Monday's opening of "The Peacemaker," only a few flashbulbs - mostly belonging to fans - went off as the "E-R" hunk and "Batman and Robin" star passed in front of about 60 photographers at Ziegfield theater

They were protesting against the actor's criticism of photographers who chase stars.

Clooney denied that he had any grudge against the press.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

''I haven't had any problem with the press. I believe in the press and I've always believed in the press. And I've never softened.''

SUPER CAPTION: George Clooney. actor

Members of the press stood idly by as Clooney did interviews along the red carpet, mainly defending his position towards the paparazzi rather than about his new movie.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I don't stand up for people who create the news. People who cause accidents. People who cause situations that would never have existed if they weren't there to cause it and take pictures."

SUPER CAPTION: George Clooney, actor

Clooney was defending the position he took in the wake of the death of Princess Diana, when the role of the paparazzi in her death was raised as a possibility.

He had blasted tabloid journalists and newspapers who ran such paparazzi photos in a news conference after her death.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Legitimate news sources like the Los Angeles Times and network news should draw a clear line in the sand. Do not purchase your news. Do not use tabloids as a source. You define the difference between tabloids and legitimate news. Do your job. Inform responsibly. As for you Mr. Coz and your colleagues, the Princess of Wales is dead and you have gone on television and you have washed your hands and you have placed blame and you have deflected responsibility and I wonder how you sleep at night. You should be ashamed."

SUPER CAPTION: George Clooney, actor

The press photographers who showed up at the New York premier only to shun the actor had little sympathy for his position.

VOX POP: (English)

"We just showed our displeasure with a person who's got a big mouth that doesn't know what he's talking about. He's made his reputation through the photographers that diligently try to help and now he turns against them because of well, what happened with Diana. And it's not proven that the photographers were responsible - the guy was drunk. So I caused the accident."

SUPER CAPTION: Rick Maiman, photographer

VOX POP: (English)

"George Clooney spoke prematurely. He bit the hand that's been feeding him. He needs the likes of us. If we don't want to take his picture on any given occasion we ultimately feel he suffers. I will go on and I will live tomorrow without having taken his picture tonight. And so will he and he's, you know he'll go on to do "ER" and maybe this movie will or will not be a success. But let's face it - the whole premise of us and you being at this event tonight was for the God all mighty bottom line. It was for the sake of hyping a movie so that it does OK at the box office."

SUPER CAPTION: P.J., photographer

Clooney is at least the third star to be boycotted after attacking the paparazzi.

Sylvester Stallone was also snubbed at the September 8 opening of his Planet Hollywood restaurant in Rome.

New York - September 22,1997; Los Angeles - file

1. Wide shot movie theater

2. George Clooney arrives to boos

3. Camera in hands

4. George Clooney walks down carpet, zooms in

5. Photographers cutaway as they boo

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) George Clooney, actor

7. Cutaway photographers

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) George Clooney, actor

9. Press cutaway

Los Angeles, file:

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) George Clooney, actor

Manhattan, NY:

11. VOX POP: (English) Rick Maiman, photographer

12. VOX POP: (English) P.J., photographer