When I think about the issue I only see an ethical dilemma, but not a legal issue. Although intruding into the personal lives of athletes seems like a unethical thing to do their is currently no laws to prevent the media from doing so. When an athlete is at a game, or out in public, they're fair game to the media frenzy of paparazzi's. The only legal issue that presents itself is when members of the media break the law in order to get a picture. Things like trespassing, breaking and entering, or harassing. If athletes want their privacy than they probably picked the wrong profession.
I think its unfortunate that the media has the ability, and the right, to intrude into the lives of professional athletes but I believe that its a burden that comes with the territory, so to speak. As long as the public is interested with the lives of athletes the media will continue to poke and prod into their personal lives.
I agree I think it is only an issue when the paparazzi are breaking laws to get the pictures that they want. It is the paparazzi jobs to get all the pictures of stars doing obscure things. They get paid to do it, the juicier the photos they get the more money they will receive. Just like everyone else they are just trying to make a living too. Unfortunately for them stars find them annoying almost like telemarketers for the average people. Stars just need to watch what they do more closely and while they do the action think do they want that image showing up on People magazine.
ReplyDeleteI agree that when the paparazzi starts breaking laws to get information about professional athlete’s personal lives, it becomes a major issue. I didn't really give much thought into this aspect of the issue, until reading this.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that it is wrong for the media to introduce into the lives of professional athletes. However, there is no law against it. Furthermore, the media has been imposing in people’s lives for quite some time now, so all professional athletes should be well aware of what they are getting themselves into when being apart of a professional sport.
You make a good point in saying that the media will continue to closely follow (more along the lines of stalking) the lives of sports stars "as long as the public is interested."
ReplyDeleteIf the tabloids and magazines did not sell at such a high volume, there would be no need to continue to raid the lives of professional athletes.
On the other hand, some athletes make poor decisions when they are out in public and easily open themselves up to ridicule. Also, there are quite a few athletes who understand how closely they are being watched and do anything they can to stay in -- or out -- of the spotlight.
I agree that athletes picked the wrong profession if they want their privacy. Athletes are some of the most celebrated people in our culture and everyone wants to know what they do and where they are at all times. It is kind of sickening actually, but hey when you see a headline saying Alex Rodriguez and Madonna are hooking up, you instantly want to click on the headline to read more. You basically said it too, as long as people are interested in what athletes do off the field, the media will continue to dig deeper and deeper.
ReplyDeleteOW,
I realize that athletes do make poor decisions when they are out in public and can easily open themselves up for ridicule. The thing I have against that is what person has not made a poor decision at least once in their life while they are in public especially when alcohol or something like that is involved.
Athletes are considered public figures, and just like celebrities and top government officials, dealing with the media is an unwritten role in their contracts. You make a great point Cody, “if athletes want their privacy they probably picked the wrong profession.” I cannot understand what it must be like to have someone snapping pictures of me at all times, but I feel like these athletes and anyone else who are in the public eye should learn from others mistakes. The media love capturing any moment, but they thrive when the people retaliates against them.
ReplyDeleteLegally, there is nothing that can be done, but don’t make it worse by acting-up and giving them a reason to be intrusive in your life. They more the athletes mess up and get in trouble the more they love doing stories on that person. So my advice would be for people that are in the spotlight to just do what is right. Act like human beings when in public and lead a relatively boring life. The media will lose interest and move on to the next athlete who: throws a stool through a bar window, or crashes their car into a light pole, or gets caught with drugs…
I agree with you on this one Cody. The paparazzi are legally allowed to follow these athletes around and if the athletes have a problem with it then they picked the wrong job. I also think there is a line to draw when paparazzi gets too close to the personal lives of athletes. As long as they stay within the legal aspects of taking photos I think that the paparazzi are justified.
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