New link in the top of page "IRC Chat".
Register | Login
Views: 122473500
Main | Memberlist | Active users | Calendar | Last Posts | IRC Chat | Online users
Ranks | FAQ | XPW | Stats | Color Chart | Photo album
03-28-24 09:51 AM
0 users currently in Debate Shrine.
Xeogaming Forums - Debate Shrine - Was using the photos ethical? | | Thread closed
Next newer thread | Next older thread
User Post
Rogue
If you're reading this... You are the Resistance











Since: 08-17-04

Since last post: 395 days
Last activity: 204 days
Posted on 05-15-09 08:10 PM Link
A couple days ago, while working on the last page I'll have to do for the paper this semester, I heard tires screech followed by the definite sound of cars colliding.

I stood up really quickly, as my desk faces a window, and saw two smashed up cars and a girl laying, bloody in the street. She was standing at the crosswalk that all of us comm students use to get to and from main campus (the communications building is the only thing on our side of the street), and was thrown 20 feet down the street.

None of us in the office knew it at the time, but the girl was one of our staff writers.

Within a minute, we saw our news director running out onto the street, holding her and making sure she was all right. He's in the army, currently in the reserves.

As soon as other bystanders came forward to help him, he took out his camera and started taking pictures for the paper. Most of the people in the office sighed and said taking pictures was invading her privacy.

A couple of the pictures were printed on the next day's front page, and we've been getting comments from people saying the picture is inappropriate and unnecessary.

I personally feel the pictures put a human face to the accident and inform people that the corner is rather dangerous. This was definitely not the first accident at that intersection this semester, and many students have voiced that the corner needs a "No Turn on Red" sign.

Thoughts?


(Last edited by Rogue on 05-15-09 08:13 PM)
Lord Vulkas Mormonus

Vile
High Xeodent of Xeomerica.








Since: 10-29-04
From: North Carolina, United States. World, Sol System, milky way

Since last post: 169 days
Last activity: 152 days
Posted on 05-15-09 11:38 PM Link
It really all depends on how she'd feel about it. If she has a problem with it, it was wrong. If she was fine with it, it was alright. So, really, he should have waited publishing it until she was able to give permission.

Also, don't people hold a copyright over their likeness? I read somewhere that someone can sue if their face is used without permission, although, givent he number of pictures newspapers and articles put up, there's probably some way to get around that.

Either way though, I think he should have waited for her permission before publishing it.
Cteno

Super Shotgun
Moderator








Since: 01-11-05

Since last post: 1601 days
Last activity: 722 days
Posted on 05-16-09 12:44 AM Link
I thought it was that whoever took the picture owns the copyright to it, making it so snuff magazines are able to get away with all of their slander. I could easily be wrong on this, though.
Lord Vulkas Mormonus

Vile
High Xeodent of Xeomerica.








Since: 10-29-04
From: North Carolina, United States. World, Sol System, milky way

Since last post: 169 days
Last activity: 152 days
Posted on 05-16-09 12:55 AM Link
http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/using-name-or-likeness-another

Okay, so it's just for publicity, or invasion of privacy. I was at least close to being right!
Katana

Dark Wizard
\"She said tonight...come on come on collide...see what I fire feels like..I bet its just like heaven.\"








Since: 08-15-04
From: Philadelphia, P.A.

Since last post: 1316 days
Last activity: 1133 days
Posted on 05-16-09 01:00 AM Link
(I typed most of this up before Vulkar ninja posted me and kindly warned me about it. But, I'm not changing it. Despite the link he provided for this specific issue, there is still a general idea about this sort of topic.)

This really isn't much of a black or white issue here. I think there's a bit of a gray area here.

In the name of preventing something like that from happening again, and from adding more substance to the voices behind the calls for certain actions (The "no turn on red" sign), I do not think he was wrong to take the pictures and post them even.

Whether or not he should have waited to get permission, because the girl and her family do have a right to object to it, is yet another gray area. Sometimes you don't have time to wait. Action needs to be taken and decisions need to be made in an instant.

So, the action taken could have been a measure to, like Rogue already said, put a face to the incident, in order to get something done about it. It was okay, in my opinion, for him to act instantly.

BUT, it's also okay for the family to see this and demand that there be no more pictures published, and maybe even an appology if they are truly devastated by the pictures.
Elara

Divine Mamkute
Dark Elf Goddess
Chaos Imp
Penguins Fan

Ms. Invisable








Since: 08-15-04
From: Ferelden

Since last post: 73 days
Last activity: 73 days
Posted on 05-17-09 12:44 AM Link
People don't like seeing gruesome images, it bothers them, so of course they are going to bitch about it. I don't think he did anything wrong, and I agree with you Rogue that he put a human face on the accident. It is a lot harder for people to ignore a problem when it has a face.
Sólrök
Newcomer








Since: 08-12-09
From: Mimimei∂r

Since last post: 5339 days
Last activity: 5336 days
Posted on 08-14-09 01:21 PM Link
The only reason this situation is questionable from a newspaper standard is that it hits too close to home, which can be a strike against credibility when its primary goal is to be unbiased. This is, of course, assuming nothing questionable was in the photos. If it was just of the wreck and not her, then there's nothing to be spoken about, as there was nothing ethical to be considered. If there was a picture of her bloodied, then yes, there would be an ethical issue but I'm assuming that's not the case.

If the piece was merely about the wreck itself as an informational piece, then it seems biased being that you don't give all wrecks the same relevance and importance. But if you gave it the slant and local angle of being relevant to the student body and their well-being at that particular corner, and the dangers that are there, then its the perfect local-college news piece.

Anyway, that's my perspective. I've worked in a local news paper for the past three years, under many different titles. Any editor with a head would understand the above concepts, so I doubt you pushed the line in any way, and you should try and have confidence in that. Some people, many people in fact, are over sensitive.
Topos

Goomba
Banned for flaming and flamebaiting








Since: 08-28-10

Since last post: 4960 days
Last activity: 4961 days
Posted on 08-28-10 12:14 PM Link
Originally posted by Elara
People don't like seeing gruesome images, it bothers them, so of course they are going to bitch about it. I don't think he did anything wrong, and I agree with you Rogue that he put a human face on the accident. It is a lot harder for people to ignore a problem when it has a face.

Unless darkies are involved apparently!
Elara

Divine Mamkute
Dark Elf Goddess
Chaos Imp
Penguins Fan

Ms. Invisable








Since: 08-15-04
From: Ferelden

Since last post: 73 days
Last activity: 73 days
Posted on 08-28-10 09:25 PM Link
You're trying to flame-bait... cute... bye now.
Next newer thread | Next older thread
Xeogaming Forums - Debate Shrine - Was using the photos ethical? | Thread closed



xeogaming.org

AcmlmBoard 1.92++ r4 Baseline
?2000-2013 Acmlm, Emuz, Blades, Xkeeper, DarkSlaya*, Lord Alexandor*
*Unofficial Updates
Page rendered in 0.184 seconds.
0.041