Libel and Invasion of Privacy
Libel and invasion of privacy are two very important issues dealing with broadcast media. The two are very similar but different from each. Libel deals more with what was actually printed or broadcast, where as invasion of privacy deals with how the information was actually gathered. Both have laws to regulate and influence what kind of information is gathered and, how it is actually obtained.
Libel simply is "defamation of character by published word", the publishing of falsities to hurt a person's reputation or standing. However, now it is not limited to only printed word as in newspapers or magazines. Slander, which is defined as "defamation of character by spoken word" is now portrayed as a form of libel because of the abundance and power the broadcast spoken word can have as in radio and television. However, libel has a much stronger penalty than that of slander because print is seen to have a much more long lasting effect, and once something is on paper you cant take it back. On the other hand, with tape recordings and the fact that any spoken defamation can de saved and distributed, radio and TV most times fall in the libel category.
Invasion of privacy in fact does have strong ties with that of libel. Though it does hurt a person or organization's character, it deals more with how the information is obtained. Simply stated privacy laws deal with "a person's right to be left alone". There are more specifically four types of violation of someone's privacy. The first one is called intrusion, which is the actual physical violation of someone's privacy, as in trespassing to obtain information. The second is appropriation, which is commercial exploitation of a person's image or likeness with out consent. Thirdly is "false light", portrays someone in false light or gives false pretences. Lastly is information on private facts, that are actually true but private, and that will severely embarrass or hurt someone's reputation.
Through these definitions and specifics on each, it is easy to see how both intertwine and are closely related. Now what we know what each is it is time to examine which of the two is a more serious concern. Personally, in understanding the two, I would have to say that libel is a more serious issue with broadcast media. To be more specific, the worst possible thing a journalist or...
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...ore long-term effect on both the media and the person who the false information was about.
I wanted to save an example for the end, and the best one I can think of is this. Most true information about someone, someone else knows about, and therefore other people will soon learn. I pose this question. What would be worse? Digging up information and finding that the new mailman is really a rapist that the police have direct records of, or falsely accusing the new mailman of being a racist when in fact he is nothing of the kind? It's easy for me to say it is much worse to falsely publicize the news of the man than it is to give true information about him, even though you may have obtained in an unethical manor. Giving the truth is the most important aspect of the media and if we as a society cant believe what they say, why should we listen. I believe the media runs the world and people are going to believe what the media tells us. There is no way around it. In this overwhelming case, it is of utmost importance that it gives us the truth.
Did someone say Vice President Al Gore won Florida? How about NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, FOX, and any body else. Now look what's happening.
For an example of the authors use of specific examples while describing what the media decides as news worthy the author writes, “The public rarely hears about the routine ceremonies at state dinners, but when President George Bush threw up all over the Japanese prime minister in 1992, the world’s media jumped on the story” (Edwards, Wattenberg, Lineberry, 2015, p. 398). This is an indication of how the media decides what is newsworthy. This quote demonstrates some of the strengths of the article because, not only does the quote support how the media decides what is news worthy, but it also shows no bias and is a factual, specific example. Another quote that demonstrates the strengths of the article is “Journalists and politicians have a symbiotic relationship, with politicians relying on journalists to get their message out and journalists relying on politicians to keep them in the know”. (p.400). this quote demonstrates the strengths of the article because, it shows how the media gets its news, how politicians gains their influence, and shows no bias. One last quote that emphasizes the strengths of this excerpt is “The media can even have a dramatic effect on how the public evaluates specific events by emphasizing one event over others. When during a 1976 presidential debate, President Ford incorrectly stated that the Soviet Union did
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliere wrote Tartuffe during the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment. One of the main characteristics of the Age of Enlightenment was a push towards using reason over emotions to make decisions. The leaders of the enlightenment truly believed that the world could be made a better place if people did this. In Tartuffe, when the characters use their emotions to make their decisions they find themselves in undesirable situations. While those who let their emotions rule them find their lives spinning out of control, there are other characters in the play who try to approach them with reason and logic. Out of these characters the lady’s maid Dorine stands out as the voice of reason.
In Molière’s play, Tartuffe, there is a sense of honor that the king receives although he is not in the actual play. Often times in the 17th century, when this play was published, the king of the country had to sponsor the plays in order for them to be performed. Tartuffe conforms to this because Molière nearly writes the entire last scene to honor King Louis XIV. This shows that he wanted to flatter the king and therefore achieve his approval. By flattering the king, Molière even achieved overriding Cardinal Chigi, who hated the play. He does this by providing examples of King Louis XIV’s strength, experience and attentiveness. Overall, the king was Molière’s strongest supporter. Molière shows how the play is monetary dependent on the King
In Tartuffe, Cléante is characterized by what he says, what others say about him, and his reaction to others. As shown in the play, Cléante is Orgon’s brother-in-law and Elmire’s brother who is very intelligent and outspoken. Throughout the play, Cléante speaks his opinions and tries to set the characters on the right path. The author of Tartuffe, Moliére, portrays Cléante as outspoken, wise, and peaceful. Moliére reveals Cléante by using the methods aforementioned.
...hoods have a lower verbal ability. This lowered verbal ability then results in poor performance in school and the labor force, which results in them being more primed towards violence. Although they find that other factors may be involved in this behavior, verbal ability is considered a primary factor. They argue that by educating these children properly, we can steer these children away from the negative emotions they may get when they are unable to respond to their environment due to their inability to properly process what is happening. Their findings suggest that if we are able to improve the living conditions in poor neighborhoods, we may be able to reduce the race difference in verbal ability and adolescent violence, which will create a more stable environment for the children to learn, as well as provide them a more social and positive environment in school.
Going back to the example of the dog poop girl, she would be justified in claiming an invasion of privacy as she was negatively characterized. The scope of law needs to expand to protect the reputation of an individual. Invasion of privacy occurs if one is portrayed falsely and in a highly offensive manner. As in the hot dog example the taking of the photograph was not a violation of privacy, however posting it online to ridicule the individual is. Privacy may also be invaded if the photo was taken by someone who intruded in a situation in which, there was a reasonable expectation of privacy -- for example, in your own home, public restroom. It is not an invasion of privacy to photograph someone in a public place or at any event where the public is invited. However, posting the messy hot dog picture is defamatory -- that is, it creates a false impression and injures your reputation. Furthermore, the fact that an unmodified photo is unflattering is not enough to claim defamation. The photo must falsely portray and must cause people in the community to think less of a person to warrant a claim. Campell v. MGN Limitted, 2004 UK is another example of how images posted online can defame. Naomi Campbell used drugs and threw the phone at her assistant. Pictures were made public to portray a bad image about her. Naomi Campbell would warrant a privacy claim on these grounds, as would I in the situation of the hotdog stand. Another reason to stop the use of the photograph is known as the right of publicity. This occurs if the image is used for commercial purposes such as to sell products or to imply that you endorse a product. An example would be if the messy hot dog image was used to advertise the hot dog stand. If the photo is used in a commercial website the unauthorized use of your image would violate the right of
“Tartuffe” is a 17th century play written by Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, typically referenced by his stage name Molière. Molière utilizes comedy in his work to demonstrate the hypocrisy at times found within religion. During the 17th century, anyone believed to be righteous was viewed as a role model and it was common for people to believe the words and follow the rules of these leaders without questioning. Due to religion being a major focus of 17th-century society, “Tartuffe” was originally banned from public viewing as a result of objections by leaders of the Catholic Church, who felt the play was an attack on religion and people of faith. Molière uses Tartuffe, one of his main characters, to play the role of a man who manipulates others
...plications, the public is able to share and obtain information before the morning newspaper is delivered. In addition, the media today continues to dramatize public events. Cases such as the Zimmerman Trial or foreign incidents in Ukraine remain headlines on news articles for months. Each source presents bias and influences its audience differently.
Bennett (2011) felt that one of the biggest problems with bias in the American media was its “overwhelming tendency to downplay the big social, economic, or political picture in favor of the human trials, tragedies, and triumphs (177).” Shaiko (2008) alluded to the fact that the American news media is “accountable to the corporate conglomerates” and not “to the readers, listeners, and viewers (205).” Probably the most telling quotation of all can be found in Chapter 10 of The News Media: Communicating Pol...
During the history defamation has developed in two ways; slander and libel. The law leading slander focused on oral statements and libel on written ones. By the 1500 English printers had to be licensed and had to be linked to the government as by that time it was believed that written word had possibility to give a risk to political strength. However when the times passed the law progressed and these days freedom of expression is a foundation of democratic rights and freedoms therefore freedom of speech is necessary in making possible democracy to work and community involvement in decision-making.
The first amendment grants the freedom of the press, speech, and religion. The first amendment also grants that the media is immune from
He focuses on exposing of the hypocrisy of Tartuffe throughout the story. Orgon has taken Tartuffe in his house, and given him food and shelter. In the family, everyone believes that Tartuffe is a hypocrite and fraud, expected Orgon and his mother; Tartuffe isn’t getting any respect from the other characters, Orgon is wealthy and powerful man, he trusts Tartuffe as holy and righteous man and listens to anything he says in which Orgon looks like fool. He does not even realize that Tartuffe takes advantage of him and manipulates his behavior. The character of Tartuffe contains most essential trait of hypocrisy. Moliere depicts his hypocritical behavior and vice in an exaggerative way, it is effective to criticize and uncover the religious hypocrisy in the society through description of the character
In extreme situations, journalists choose the angle they can find, tick the boxes to the news worthiness, but never having a stand. According to Kempf, journalists fulfill certain criteria of newsworthiness and fake empirical evidence, which implements propaganda and in the journalists’ defense “that it did not matter the pictures were faked since they only showed what people already ‘knew’ and since they served the goal of opening the eyes of the public” (Kempf 2002, p. 60). Various examples from the War on Terror, where journalists and reporters would fake evidence just to gain more audiences but examples like this could elevate the issues, and it is as if this responsibility of Journalism of Attachment only adds fuel to the fire and this is done in the name of peace (Kempf 2002).
The introduction of the internet to modern society has brought about a new age of information relation. Since there is no longer a need to wait until the next print day, news from all over the world is available at a person’s fingertips within hours or even minutes of the event. With this advent of such easily accessible information, new problems for the news media have also arisen. Aside from potentially losing good economic standing because newspapers are no longer being purchased in the quantities they used to be, the credibility of the information itself is also put into question. No one would argue that credibility of news sources is unimportant, but there is a discrepancy in what takes precedence; economy and speed or getting the information out correctly at the first publishing by taking the time to make sure all facts are checked. The importance of having a system of checks on all information submitted is paramount. People trust what they read and believe it to be so without always questioning. If all information were to not be checked thoroughly, there would be instances where people read an article only for information included to be wrong and they go on believing such information. This can be very dangerous as misinformed people make misinformed decisions. With an increase in errors being made by citizen bloggers and even major publications, many are worried that journalistic ethics and credibility in the news media are being sacrificed in order to maintain swiftness in the news circuit and to retain personal profits. Though getting information to the masses quickly is a major part of the media’s importance, this should not mean that the credibility of that information being presented should be sacrificed for it...
Most media companies will tell false information for publicity or because they are hiding something. Media plays a big role when it comes to socializing with the society. Some facts may not ever be heard. Media telling false information is legal but it loses the trust of the public, not fair to the people who trust the media, and news shouldn’t hide facts from the public that they need to be aware of.