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Essay about Paparazzi: How Far is Too Far?

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The term paparazzo is defined as “a freelance photographer who pursues celebrities to get photographs of them.” (Definition of paparazzo, 2011) The name originated from the last name of a photographer in the 1960 film La Dolce Vita. (Green) Yet the meaning from the word paparazzo denotes a stronger meaning than just a freelance photographer. The paparazzi are notorious for their persistent and annoying personalities who will go through any measure to get the shot that they wish for. The main targets of the paparazzi are the celebrities who enchant the public. The public’s obsession with that person encourages the paparazzi to pursue the celebrity and encourages them to participate in acceptable invasive antics. It is only when harm …show more content…

Courts have held a tort law that says there is no intrusion when the media photograph from a public setting, a passerby could have just as easily have seen or heard for themselves (Siegel, 2002). While The Constitution has no overt mention of the right to privacy, the courts have recognized a constitutional right to privacy. Before the 19th century, privacy was a term that was not on the minds of rural Americans. (Pember & Calvert, 2011) And the end of the 19th century, the right for privacy became a very important need. Journalism focused on the sensational events that focused on the rich and the famous throughout the urbanized cities. The first published proposal for the legally recognized right of privacy came from Samuel D. Warrens and Louis D. Brandeis in the Harvard Law Review. The article “The Right to Privacy,” appeared in 1890 and is recognized as the foundation of the modern law of privacy. (Pember & Calvert) The right of privacy has developed to protect four main areas of privacy: (1) intrusion, (2) publication of private facts, (3) delineation in a false light, and (4) appropriation, unauthorized commercial exploitation of a person’s name or likeness. (Middleton, Lee & Chamberlin, 2005) While New York Times v. Sullivan helped distinguish public and private figures in a libel suit, the same standard applies equally to the right of privacy. (Pember & Calvert)

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