Privacy in the Media

1
Privacy in the Media

• Presentation by
• Rich Green

2
What is Privacy?

• Privacy is the ability to have personal
  information kept out of the public eye
• In an age of new media there is now less privacy
  than ever.
• More information is available on the Internet and
  through other media.

3
Who is entitled to Privacy?

• Everyone is entitled to the basic privacy laws
  but social standing in society can change how
  much privacy one gets.
• Public figures see more privacy violations
  because they are always in the public eye
• Private figures such as your average small
  business owner normally receives more privacy in
  society.

4
Why is Privacy Important

• Roger Clarke- a consultant and specialist in
  privacy matters lays out why it is important.
• Philosophical Reason- People need to feel as
  though they have individual autonomy and self
  determination (through privacy)
• Economical Reason- Clarke believes that when
  there is less privacy there is less innovation in
  society.

5
Private Person

• Private person is not clearly defined
• Most agree that someone like a grocery store
  worker or a mom-and-pop business owner is private

6
Public Person

• Government Officials
• Celebrities
• Corporation CEOs and Board of Trustees

7
Invasions of Privacy

• Some consider the following invasions of
  privacy
• Using search engines to find out information
• Social Networking sites
• Unauthorized use of photographs
• Wire tapping of private phone calls

8
Search Engines

• A Vancouver man was charged with making his
  three-year-old daughter take the drug GHB.
• With the story an average citizen was able to use
  Google to find address and resume of the accused.

9
Social Networking

• John Barna, Editor of Gloucester County Times.
• Paper used Facebook to write a story about a
  deceased young mother from Camden.
• Believed it gave a better representation.

10
Journalist Opinion One

• Colleen Moore, Associate Editor of Salem Countys
  Todays Sunbeam
• When someone puts information on Facebook or the
  Internet themselves it is no longer private
• Paper does not use social networking sites
  because they are not reliable sources.
• Believes privacy is compatible with journalism
  because one doesnt just dig into someones life
  for no reason

11
Journalist Opinion Two

• John Barna, Editor Gloucester County Times
• Believes that using social networks and the
  Internet is just like using the phone book to
  call a neighbor of a murder victim.
• Believes journalists should take the high road.
• I live in a community where people can look up
  my phone number you risk loosing the support of
  the community.

12
Other Ways to Invade Privacy

• The use of photography without the permission of
  the person or family members
• We talked about the use of pictures of the
  deceased and graphic war photographs
• The use of the Patriot Act during the Bush
  administration to get information against alleged
  terrorists.

13
Questions to be Answered

• Where do you feel the line between public and
  private figures should be drawn?
• Do you believe that with the new media age there
  is less privacy for citizens?
• Does the use of search engines invade the privacy
  of average citizens?
• Do you think Facebook is a good source to get
  background information for a story?
• Do you think invasions of privacy hinder
  innovation of citizens?