Privacy

Today’s presentation was on privacy and how much is too much. Shasi and Gwen did a short and simple presentation providing adequate examples. Gwen’s youtube video depicted a couple assaulting an investigative journalist which was entertaining and also made us wonder if the journalists did indeed cross boundaries to invade the couples’ privacy. Shasi’s example on the news where the mother accidentally ran over her child created a long and pondering discussion in class that we started to question how far we ourselves as individuals will go to publish this story and where would we draw the invisible line?

There are 4 areas in which privacy can be categorized. They are, intrusion, publication of embarrassing private facts, publication of information that places one in false light and appropriation which is using an individual’s name and photographs without their knowledge (Richards, 2001). However, there are times in which journalists has gone overboard and have violated these area of privacy before. So when is it considered ok to go overboard? Well, clearly, the public always love to know or have more scoops about gossips on issues such as celebrities. If your next door neighbor had a new haircut would you even care? But somehow when it comes to celebrities or high profile people such as politicians, this is huge news and people want to know about it. Aren’t these celebrities also considered people? But journalists are allowed to breech their privacy? Take famous twilight actor for example. Robert Pattinson himself says that he is really shy to the media and he would really like to have some time alone without having to worry what the media has to say about him or the media following him around (Hollywoodgo, 2010). These people do not want the public to know about their personal lives, but somehow, journalists are allowed to breech their privacy. However, there are times where certain issues need to be brought to light especially if these celebrities or politicians are seen as role models to the public. I especially think this is true for politicians as if they have criminal records or other things that may not be very ethical, the public has a right to know. This is because he is running a country and he cannot afford to be corrupted when running a country.

But what about normal people then? Are we allowed to intrude in their privacy? Let me use the same example that we discussed in class of the mother reversing the car and accidentally killing her son. The Newpaper portrayed the story in a completely different light by making it a front page story showing a picture of the mother looking agonized and crying. Clearly The Newpaper did this to sensationalise the story as it is common knowledge in Singapore that The Newpaper is a tabloid paper. When people see the face of the agonizing woman on the front page together with the headlines, they are bound to buy the paper. Then we ask ourselves, hasn’t the woman and her family gone through enough that we have to publish this story? In my opinion, I think it is alright publishing the story but it was not necessary to use images of this woman to boost sales.

In conclusion, I ask back the question when do journalist have to draw a line? Certainly, journalism is a sticky area to work in. I guess it depends on the person’s ethics and sometimes the company’s ethics as well. This is because sometimes, journalists are forced to do things they do not want to. Well, I must start asking myself if I really want to enter this competitive and sticky field again. I still think I might to get my adrenaline pumping though! ;)

Reference

1) Hollywoodgo, 2010. Robert Pattison Debuts Short Hair On Ellen [Online]. Available from: http://www.hollywoodgo.com/celebrity-gossip/robert-pattison-debuts-short-hair-on-ellen-15735/ (Accessed 24^th June 2011).

2) Richards, I., 2001. ‘Public Interest, Private Lives’, Journalism Theory in Practice, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.