Privacy is still a major concern for the journalism profession today. With technology advancing everyday, it is becoming easier for journalists to gain information in order to report on the personal lives of both celebrities and members of the general public.
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) state that “respect for the truth and the public’s right to information are fundamental principles of journalism,” (MEAA Code of Ethics).
With this being said, what can be defined as public interest, and, even if it is released on the grounds that the public wants to know, does it make it ethical?
One such instance was the report on former Transport Minister David Campbell. Video footage and still images were displayed showing the Minister leaving a gay club in a Government vehicle.
Campbell chose to present himself as a family man due to the Government job he was placed in. However, this was proven to be a misrepresentation of himself to the public. According to Peter Meakin, his secret gay lifestyle was “at odds with his persona,” and evidently if he lied about his personal life, what else may he have lied about.
This was shown to the public and was later said to have been released to the public on the grounds that it was in the “public’s interest” to know. However, it is hard to draw the line in cases like this between what is publicly relevant and what is purely an invasion of privacy.
I guess when it comes to making decisions on what is published, journalists need to really consider what is public interest and what could and should remain private.
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