Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Why Photographers and Journalists crowding around the Famous should be Banned. Blog 3


                                      Why there should be a law against photographers and journalists:
                                       3. The dangers- often life-threatening- involved.

The most infamous "hit-and-run" paparazzi incident was the death of Diana Princess of Wales. In the aftermath of a holiday in the French Riviera, she had gone to Paris, briefly ending up in the Ritz hotel, before attempting to leave unnoticed by the eagerly awaiting press. After speeding to pursue the pursuing paparazzi, the car had crashed. In the documentary, Diana The Witnesses In The Tunnel, the seven paparazzi arrested claimed to have arrived at the scene after the car had crashed, and that the others that were present had already left when the emergency services had arrived. So despite their defence those that did chase the car carrying the Princess, causing her death, had already left. Also, only one had attempted to save her, whilst the others, against the laws of France, had kept snapping pictures, not sparing her of any dignity in her final hours.  Earl Spencer, Diana's brother later stated "I always believed that the Press would kill her in the end... It would appear that every proprietor and editor of every publication that has payed for intrusive and exploitive photographs of her, encouraging greedy and ruthless individuals to risk everything in pursuit of Diana's image, has blood on his hands today."

                     
Above left: Diana Princess of Wales hides her face as the car is targeted by photographers. Moments later she would be dead, fleeing the ones that tried to photograph her and report stories on her. Right: The car, carrying the princess that crashed.



                                     
                          Above: Teenage Pop singer Justin Bieber had been involved in an accident when a pursuing Paparazzo was killed on the road. Many say that he was not to blame, but the Paparazzi were.

Despite the vast public outcry, no restriction laws banned the paparazzi from crowding around, stalking/pursuing, shouting/harassing at the Famous. American pop singer Justin Bieber had been involved in an accident when an awaiting photographer, busy taking pictures, did not bother to move from the middle of the road. In the aftermath of the fatality- the photographer's- singer/actress Miley Cyrus had tweeted: "It's unfair for anyone to put this on Justin's conscience as well! This was bound to happen! Your mom teaches you when you're a kid not to play in the street! The chaos that comes with the paparazzi acting like fools makes it impossible for anyone to make safe choices!" Although others may make an Argumentum Ad Hominem by stating that Cyrus can hardly be relied on for advice on sensible behaviour when her public antics can hardly be called appropriate, and that her impassioned speech sounded very heated, her argument did have its points. Children are taught, as a necessity, not to linger in the middle of roads otherwise a fatality may just occur. "Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders and the photographers themselves." Bieber quoted. Yet hardly anything happened.  

Outrageously was the incident that occurred to actress Tori Spelling. The American author/actress' car was crashed when she was taking her children to school. In the previous blog the issues of the emotional and mental health of "celebrity" children were discussed. Now it appears that their lives are potentially in danger due to the media scrutiny. Unless the harassing/shouting, stalking and pursuing, as well as the breaching of privacy is ended, than more "incidents" may yet occur.












                                                    


                                                       
                                         

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Why Photographers and Journalists crowding around the Famous should be Banned. Blog 2


                                 Why there should be a law against photographers and journalists:
                                  2: Regarding and affecting their children.

                                                            
Above Right and Left: Actress Halle Berry, fiancé Oliver Martinez and daughter Nahla confronted by the paparazzi. Berry angrily shouted at them not to harass her daughter.


The biggest concern of most famous persons are in regards to their children. The children of famous persons  are a prized target for the media, and paparazzi are often found following/stalking, pursuing, shouting at, and in some cases, abusing, young children. Recently two actresses and mothers, Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner are pressing for the state government of California USA, to put forward a law banning the presence of paparazzi near their offspring. Garner stated, their children have "a bounty on their heads." Halle Berry stated firmly, "We aren't just whiny celebrities... we're moms here, trying to protect their children." Garner claimed that she and her husband did not want "a gang of arguing, shouting, law-breaking photographers who camp out everywhere we are all day, every day, to continue traumatizing my kids." Berry angrily stated her daughter  did not wish to go to pre-school anymore because there were grown people waiting to harass her. Actor Brad Pitt, also had a grudge against paparazzi, due to having six children with actress Angelina Jolie. Bluntly saying he hated them, had no respect for them, and could not understand why they chose such professions for a living. As they were not at public events and functions, he argued that they should have a chance to live their everyday lives in peace, not to have the walls of their private property climbed upon, or to have photographers and journalists disturb their children as they are being taken to school or anywhere else. With six very young children, it is understandable that he and his partner would wish to concentrate on raising them, and keeping them happy and safe. Yet it appears that the children do not feel safe as they are being stalked and crowded upon and shouted at by strangers, it apparently from the words of their parents, disturbs and frustrates them as they do their day-to-day, or holiday activities. They neither asked, nor needed to feel the stress of living with fame, as it is not mentally and emotionally healthy for children, as an Article in Information Gateway stated. "Because my husband and I are public figures, it is assumed that our daughters are public figures, and there's nothing to protect them." As parents who desperately loved their children Yet Garner, her husband Ben Affleck, Pitt, Jolie and Berry are not the only parents with children at strain in the public eye.




  
Above Left: Actresses Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner at court to plead for laws restraining photographers and journalists- especially around children. Right: Actress Katie Holmes, and her daughter with Tom Cruise, Suri are followed by photographers. Suri attempts to shield her face.

As mentioned above Berry's own daughter no longer wished to continue pre-school. In this, it can be argued that such disruptions would be called illegal, if any non-famous person were disturbed that way, they were likely to call the police, the offending persons would be jailed and/or fined, with a restraining order. Yet nothing has been done to prosecute the offending persons. If such laws are not strongly placed, new, stronger laws, may yet be needed. Another scandal would be when the daughter f formerly married actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had been abused by a member of the press. As she and her mother had attempted to board a car, the paparazzi had crowded in, shouting, and blinding them with flashbulbs. The seven-year-old, reaching a breaking point in terms of stress, frustration and fears shouted, "We're trying to get into a car....Stop it!"

 She shouted again; "Get out of the way!" But as she was boarding, a voice shouted, "Bye Suri, you little brat!" And then proceeded to call her a "b**ch".  This treatment occurred, possibly due to the person not seeing Suri Cruise as a child- who had only recently experienced her parents' divorce- but as a spoiled celebrity who "deserved"- due to her "attitude", to be harassed and bullied. Yet it can be pointed out that it is her parents who had fame, for being actors. She chose no such profession, nor did she choose to be born with famous parents, as mentioned above.

 There are no laws preventing such treatment, as the police have done nothing as of yet. However there are laws that state if an ordinary person were to be stalked, abused, crowded upon, their homes and privacy breached, as well as their everyday lives, would be imprisoned and/or fined and restrained. There should be no reason why famous persons- who happen to be citizens of nations with such laws, or Heads of State- having the same right extended towards them- and their children who desperately need it. As mentioned, the paparazzi ignore such laws, more restraining ones are needed.
















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Why Photographers and Journalists crowding around the Famous should Banned. Blog 1


                                  Why there should be law against Photographers and journalists:
                                   1: Affecting their general everyday and holiday lives.


Paparazzi- the word means "Mosquito" in Italian and as the Duke of Edinburgh once said to a nurse in a tropical country; "You have mosquitoes, I have the Press." Although it might have been one of his famous "gaffes" it can be argued that he did have a fair point. Being the consort of Great Britain's monarch, Prince Philip's name is likely to be known worldwide, and he and his family are highly prized targets for the media press, and their scrutiny. Privacy could hardly be afforded. So, many singers, actors, royals, and many more, including members of parliaments and senates, have had enough.



As royals are a prized target, valued "alone-time" is priceless enough to be sorely missed. Yet if they do not have time to relax, and refresh themselves, they are not likely to be able to function and perform their necessary duties. According to Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, "the line between public and private" must not be breached. "We're all perfectly prepared to be seen and do our things, more or less in public, but we do need to have a home-base, which is unassailed, where we can be in peace, and where we can recuperate." She said that although she can understand why the press and the public would like to know how they live their everyday lives, however, "if they saw how we lived everyday, we wouldn't be living the sort of everyday life that people do live, and which everybody needs to have." If everyone needs some peace, along with their children, from the constant media attention, pressures and relaxation time, for themselves, friends and/or family, then it is a terrible thing if they are not respected. Although royals are prepared to have the press present at coronations, weddings, charity balls, and so forth, they are continuously intruded upon in their private and daily lives. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's honeymoon  was a special intimate time, between a husband and wife, like any other honeymoon, or at least it should be. The Australian Woman's Day had intruded during their intimacy and took photographs, after the Duke and Duchess respectfully pleaded for the media and public to respect their privacy on their honeymoon. A French tabloid had also published photographs of a topless Duchess having sunscreen rubbed on her back. They were not the only ones having trouble enjoying their honeymoon. The honeymoon of Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O'Neill, had been spied upon by the paparazzi, the new wife was outraged. If "you can't work if you aren't able to relax" had been pressed upon by Queen Margrethe, then private times are necessary. The Princess was not conducting her official duties. If every other couple and family had a right not to have their privacy breached, then there should be no law barring royals against such a right. It is understandable, what Queen Margrethe had said, about not being able to perform what the public- and the media themselves- expects them to do. If they do not have some time for themselves, then are hardly able to function. How could they even perform everyday doings, such as walking to the store, driving and picking up the children from school, if they are unable to so in peace, as human beings, in general all need. Any person, whether famed or not, will need some time for themselves and cannot spend their entire lives under scrutiny or pressure, and the fear of being ridiculed for an embarrassing faux pas, that can easily be forgiven- and forgotten- if it was anyone else.



Top Left and Right, Diana Princess of Wales harassed by photographers and journalists, the right photo is taken on the night she was killed. Above Left: Kate Moss, Supermodel trying desperately- and unsuccessfully- to hide from the paparazzi and actresses Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner speak out in court in support of laws that restrain journalists and photographers, especially around their children.


Aside from royals, there are others who need to live in peace from the paparazzi and the constatnt media attention and scrutiny. According to Brad Pitt,  they are struggling to raise children in peace. The actor bluntly stated that he "hated them" and showed no regret, nor did he try to put things delicately. He stated quite freely, that a distinction had to be made "between these people who photograph celebrities at events and people who climb over your walls and wear camouflage and call out your kids names, as you're trying to take them to school, to see if they'll look that way."

However are these photographers and journalists may only be making a living out of  the general public's interests. Phtographers and journalists say that they are not the ones to blame. For all their fans' support of their views, the fans and other interested persons simply increasing the demand for photographs and gossip of "celebrities" and their families, saying also that the "celebrities" themselves also choose to go to places where they knew many people would also go, including paparazzi. Yet it can be pointed out that they, like anyone else at the scene, are their for their own uses, as everyone else present, and have as much right to be there as those peoples.

 As these are not public events or functions, then surely they are able to conduct their own doings in peace. If so then surely they have no ethical right to harass these peoples and therefore laws should be placed against such behaviour.


















Above: Footballer David Beckham, attempts to shield his baby daughter Harper from the media. Harper Beckham had been made famous for the mere fact she was born with famous parents. The  numerous websites, magazine articles and photographs of her, are countless.








  • i'mnotobsessed- Brad Pitt Calls For Stricter Paparazzi Laws- imnotobsessed.com/228/12/03/brad-pitt-calls-for-stricter-paparazzi-laws/
  • ivillage- Celebs Weigh In on Justin Bieber Paparazzo Death: So Who's Right?- www.ivillage.com/justin-bieber-paparazzi-death-miley-cyrus-neil-patrick-harris-weigh/1-a-512598
  • Entertainment Weekly- California passes new anti-paparazzi law, but will it help? (Or at least save Kate Moss?)- popwatch.ew.com/2010/09/02/california-passes-new-anti-paparazzi-law-but-will-it-help-or-at-least-save-kate-moss/
  • DAILY SUNDIAL- Staff Editorial: Paparazzi is not Photojournalism- sundial.csun.edu/2209/10/staff-editorial-paparazzi-is-not-photojournalism/
  • VITAMINW- No Script Here: Celebrity Moms Fighting for Anti-Paparazzi Law-vitaminw.co/news/Halle-Berry-SB606-paparazzi-law


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My ten blog-links


Here are my ten blog links on the topic, Why Press/Paparazzi photographers and journalists should not crowd around the Famous:

i'mnotobsessed- Brad Pitt Calls For Stricter Paparazzi Laws.

ivillage- Celebs weigh in on Justin Bieber Paparazzo Death: So Who's Right?

Entertainment Weekly- California passes new anti-paparazzi law, but will it help? (Or at least save Kate Moss?)

Daily Sundial- Staff Editorial: Paparazzi is not Photojournalism.

VitaminW- No Script Here: Celebrity Moms Fighting for Anti-Paparazzi Law.

Gossip Cop- Suri Cruise Shockingly Called "Brat" and "B*tch" By Paparazzi In Disturbing NEW video.

American Journalism Review- The Diana Aftermath.

CBCnews World- L.A officials discuss paparazzi problems.

examiner.com- Celebrities speak out: Back off paparazzi.

CBS Evening News- Royals Warn Paparazzi About Kate and William.


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