Harvard Professor Arrested

In discussing the effects of photos strategically placed in articles, what does this close-up portrait of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. do for the article? It is the only one, appearing at the top, with the caption:

"Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested last week on a charge of disorderly conduct."

It is a hard news lede article, and goes into as much detail as they can about the incident that took place at the home in Cambridge. Other information, like Gates Jr.'s credentials, appears only at the end, delaying information about his prominent position.

How is your opinion of this man affected by the article's structure, the presentation of the available information, and the photo? Pretty interesting, don't you think?