Mr Essay Research Paper What responsibility does

Mr Essay, Research Paper

What responsibility does the press have in keeping the public informed while at the same time, respecting the privacy and sensibility of individuals.

The press has the power to influence virtually all areas of our lives. Words and images are combined to produce various messages and meanings. All that is presented to us undoubtedly has an effect; whether it be positive, negative or neutral. In some countries the press is seen as an instrument for exposing the truth, and in others it is seen as an obstacle to the truth and a mechanism for propaganda.

The Press Council is an industry-funded body designed to ensure journalistic standards and to deal with complaints concerning the press. The body does not have any power to enforce punishment on those who do not comply with the set standards. The Council relies on voluntary adherence to the standards and the admission of mistakes publicly.

It is virtually impossible for the press, in all situations to follow all principles set out by the Press Council. Press Council Principle No. 3 states that “readers of publications are entitled to have news and comments presented to them honestly and fairly and with the respect for the privacy and sensibility of individuals”. It further states that “the right to privacy should not prevent publication of matters of public record or obvious of significant public interest. Rumour and unconfirmed reports if published should be identified as such”. In theory, Press Council Principle No. 3 has good intentions, but can it really be taken into account in all situations. Definitely not. The balance between the public’s ‘right to know’ and the right of an individual’s privacy is extremely delicate.

Hurst and White (1994) state that “to a member of the public, intrusion into privacy can be seen as unethical conduct, irrespective of the status of the person whose privacy has been violated. To a journalist, intrusions are often ethically justified because a particular case appeals to the more potent principle of the public’s right to know”. Andrew Belsey (1992) makes three distinctions between people and their right to privacy in Ethical Issues in Journalism and the Media.

It may be the responsibility of the press to keep the public informed while at the same time respecting the privacy and sensibility of individuals, but should all individuals be shown the same respect. The behaviour and functions of the press are regularly debated by committees, councils, the courts, the media themselves and the public. Andrew Belsey (1992), in Ethical Issues in Journalism and the Media states that there are three groups of individuals: personalities (identified as those who are created and sustained by publicity), people who are involuntarily forced into the public eye, and politicians (and those of similar power status in society). These groupings or categories distinguished by Belsey are by no means exhaustive. They simply assist the press create a point of reference when distinguishing whether a ‘newsworthy’ piece of writing is in fact a ‘matter of public record or obvious or significant public interest’.

Belsey (1992) states that “people, who tend to live according to the maxim that all publicity is good publicity, cannot consistently claim the protection of privacy when they discover the negative side of the Faustian contract”. On the other hand, the second group of individuals mentioned above are those who are ’shoved’ into the spotlight without actually wanting to be there. These people include victims of tragedy and disasters, winners of prizes and events, people who have been through amazing operations or those who have perhaps experienced more than the ‘average’ citizen. These people do however have a greater ‘right to privacy’ than the first group of individuals. “Belsey (1992) sates that “when people are involved in public events there can be no objection on privacy grounds to the press reporting what is already known, together with non-intrusive background or follow-up stories”. However, the act of being ‘non-intrusive’ is a subjective matter. What is ‘non-intrusive’ behaviour to one person may be totally unacceptable to another.

People who have standing and power within society, and are accountable and answerable to society (such as politicians), should expect to get at least some attention from the press. Yet, when a person decides to become a public figure, where is the distinction made between what in fact is ‘public life’, and what is ‘private life’. Public life and private life often collapse into each other.

One only has to open the newspaper or turn on the television to be bombarded by a plethora of information about investigations and scandals into the private lives of politicians and other influential public figures. The behaviour of these people in their private lives cannot often be kept separate and distinct from their public lives. For example, is it in the public’s interest to be notified of the private dealings of politicians, if their dealings can be linked to issues about which the public has a ‘right to know’. For example a local politician may be accepting gifts from a local businessman in return for encouraging fellow members of parliament to push forward local development plans. If these are confirmed reports (as opposed to rumours and allegations), then it is the responsibility of the press t