Week 8-Privacy

Privacy is a very sensitive issue. This week's presentation focused on when the publics right to know, overtake an individual's privacy. As journalists, journalists are under constant pressure to deliver good news stories that will appeal to audiences, and most importantly, being newsworthy. There are four different categories where privacy is invaded. These would include intrusion, publication of embarrassing private facts, publication of information that places one in false light and appropriation
:using one’s name, picture or likeness.

Being an investigative journalist is not a simple task, as many risks have to be taken in order to get a good story and constant follow-ups have to be made. I found the video in the presentation very disturbing because an investigative journalist was attacked very badly by a person who allegedly was using other peoples' name and particulars in a real estate scam.

In such a case, perhaps an invasion of privacy might be deemed all right, as it is to uncover something that was done illegally. As discussed in the class, most privacy stories that are ultimately picked by editors, are to sell newspapers. It is evident that eye-catching stories catch more attention of people in comparison to only one section with more words than pictures. Big pictures catch the attention of people rather than the small ones. However in certain cases, it might be deemed unfair to treat someone very unfairly by blowing up their picture in a newspaper when they have not really committed a crime, or done a grave mistake.


References

1.Archard, D., 1998, ‘Privacy, the public interest and a prurient public’, Media Ethics, Routledge, London, pp. 82-96.

2.Belsey, A. & Chadwick, R., 1992, Ethical Issues in Journalism and the Media, Routledge, London.

3.Bok, S., 1980, Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life, Quartet, London.