Privacy.
Where do I start? Seriously, there are two sides of the coin that we have to observe. For example, reporting on an event that a celebrity is taking drugs, do we put it in the report or should we just let it slide?
If that's not difficult, what about the times when we are reporting on a person's death and we are getting insights from the person's loved ones. How private should the news be?
"Today’s technology gives the media powerful new tools for intrusion into private lives. Cameras are smaller and easier to hide. Conversations are easily recorded surreptitiously. Computers and the Internet provide the ability to rummage through the closets of your life in ways that have never before been possible."
Which is true. He even went on state that everyone has a choice to make information public or not. As long as a person was in a public area, that person was revealing himself to the public. Perhaps it isn't the reporter's fault that things that are revealed as a person should have responsibility as to whether they choose to reveal themselves or not. This may be a harsh point of view but truth be told, in the viewpoint of celebrity privacy, they can choose whether to behave or not.
But some reporters do have to toe the line when it comes to ethics. For example, the conscience of a person is constantly being tested when put out to the frontline of the news. Which pictures should be posted? Which angle should the article be edited to and printed?
This subject on privacy however is very much like a cycle that would never end. Like karma, what comes around goes around.
Another example was that Sixty Minutes, a reality show was broadcasted, on an Aussie television channel, NineMSN, on the personal life of an anorexic person. Sixty Minutes is dedicated to the broadcasting of the personal insights from various angles, be it from an anorexic person to Michael Cain. As long as it is of interest to the public, Sixty Minutes would be sure to broadcast it. (I personally find it interesting myself.)
Anyway, back to the anorexic person, Amy, she allowed the cameras into her home and allowed the interviewers to ask her questions about her issue. From past experiences in my Broadcasting Journalism module, I found out that interviewers have a sheet of questions that they prepare for the interviewee. In the particular episode however, the interviewer had asked her a question which had angered her and to her mind, insinuated that she was fat. It was an extremely normal question. "Do you find that you might eat too much on a certain day?" Perhaps the interviewer was not tactful enough but much care must be handled when it comes to dealing with people who have strong insecurities about a particular issue.
My point is, even when handled with extreme care, there might be instances in which interviewers and the people behind the camera are in a tight position as to whether or not to cut out a particular scene which might evoke emotions in people, whether positive or negative.
It could be more of like a gamble. But then again, the code of ethics are always there as a list of guidelines, in which every journalist should understand and undertake as it is a social responsibility.
The name of the story is Amy's Story. For those of you who are interested, please note that the link to her story is here.
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