In the Public Interest: Public vs. Private

The seminar demonstrated that the lines between public and private are blurring. The term ‘celebrity’ has become a term used loosely because what the public are interested in has changed. There is a difference between the public interest and what the public are interested in. Australians are protected by the Privacy Act, but there exemptions for reporting providing that journalists subscribe to the specific industry codes of practice. There are no clear rules or guidelines for journalists.

An example used was Princess Diana who reached celebrity status and became ‘the people’s princess’ and she was constantly in the public eye. Her death in 1997 had paparazzi taking her photograph in her last moments and this became an invasion of privacy.
Celebrities, politicians and their families have a right to privacy in their own homes because this is a private place, not a public one. The more the public crave the celebrity gossip the further reporters and photographers push the boundaries.

Journalists should be reporting for the greater good and in recent years the concept of greater good has changed. Public and private are heavily influenced by law and ethics. The ethics of journalists plays a role in the information they are willing to obtain. While journalists have a duty to convey information and animate democracy the privacy of an individual does not mean secrecy.

The case study of Derryn Hinch was an example used by one of the presenters. Derryn Hinch is a journalist who received 28 days in jail for contempt of court. Each situation is different and journalists must take precautions.
The MEAA Code of Ethics clause 13 states that ‘Accept the right to privacy of every person. Public figures’ privacy may be reduced by their public role. Relatives and friends of those in the public eye retain their own right to privacy.’

Journalists are faced with issues of privacy almost every day. It is their job to assess the legal, ethical and moral dimensions associated with every report and make a decision that is fair, honest and balanced.