Famous People and the Media

Introduction

The late Princess Diana is probably one of the best examples of how the media and the celebrities have been involved in series of fights, on one side for privacy, and on the other for the freedom of press. This paper, then, is going at the both sides presented by both the press and the celebrities in their battle for freedom and privacy, and try to decide whether the celebrities are treated unfairly by the media, or whether this is just a small price they have to pay for their fame and money.

The relationship between the society and famous individuals is extremely complicated. It is thought that most individuals have what experts have referred to as love- hate relationship, as they both recent, and envy them and love them at the same time. It has been argued that, as a culture individuals embrace public figures with passion, but at the same time they become extremely fast in believing the worst about these people. An expert in the field points out that many times people confuse the persona of celebrities with their own persona, and, as a result, believe that they know them, and that at one time they will watch as the mask the celebrities wear slip (Peck, n.d).

People not only think that celebrities wear fashion clothes when they show in public but also that they make a lot of money while doing it. Though this is true, celebrities also have to lose their privacy because of this success. Everyone knows all the gossip of celebrities from various sources; form television broadcasts, to magazines, to newspapers to tabloids. No matter what goes on in their lives, the media is there to print it out and deliver it to its audience without pity. So do famous people deserve privacy or do they have to sell their privacy for their fame? Yes. Famous people do deserve their privacy and they do not have to exchange their privacy with fame and money because they have rights too just like anyone else. Therefore, I do not agree with the argument that an invasion of celebrities’ privacy is a price they have to pay for their fame (Kenyon & Milne, 2005).

As it follows, there must be a balance kept between privacy of celebrities and the freedom of press. This should especially be stressed with the current up surge of extreme intrusion of the privacy of celebrities, the invasive telephoto lens, and confessional journalism. A tort was recently developed whose focus was emphasized on the issue of misuse of private information. This law will further protect the personal privacy of public figures that has been largely misused. Individuals should realize that everyone including celebrities needs and deserves privacy, and the concerned entities should make invasion of personal privacy a crime so that public figures can be protected further. There should also be an incentive to discourage the public figures from using the media to gain fame and popularity (Freedom of the press and privacy).

Conclusion

The invasion of the personal privacy of public figures should not be taken as a price they have to pay for their money, success and fame. They deserve respect and privacy just like any other individuals and the law should ensure that their private information, as well as, their privacy is protected against the media. Though media is allowed freedom, a balance should be established between violating people’s rights and exercising one’s freedom.

References

Freedom of the press and privacy. Human rights law essay. Law Teacher. Retrieved fromhttp://www.lawteacher.net/human-rights/essays/freedom-of-press-and-privacy.php

Kenyon, A. & Milne, E. (2005). Images of celebrity: publicity, privacy, law. 10 Media & Arts Law Review 311

Peck, G. Victims as public figures and the issue of privacy. Victims and the Media Program. Retrieved from http://victims.jrn.msu.edu/public/students/pubfig.html