The media’s freedom of expression is an essential safeguard in a free society. However, it is often suggested that there should be limits to the media’s right to report on the private lives of public figures. There are a number of arguments both in favour of and against this view.
Firstly, it is argued that politicians should not be the objects of media scrutiny outside their work and that the media should not report information about them, such as details of their relationships, which is generally considered private. However, the counter- argument is that there are some politicians who use privacy laws to cover up embarrassing information, for example, when they have accepted gifts in return for using their influence. In other words, it is sometimes in the public interest for the media to investigate politician’s private lives to reveal and deter such corruption.
A further argument is that the media is more interested in making money that in telling the truth. Stories of scandals involvig well-known people increase newspaper circulatiion and attract larger the inconvenieces as well as the benefits this brings.
A final argument is that when media reports on famous people’s private relationships, it often puts these relationships under tremendous pressure that they fail. On the other hand, opponents of this argument say that many celebrities promote themselves by publicising their private affairs in the media, and only complain about an invasion of privacy when problem arise.
In conclusion, I believe that public figures have to expect some media scrutiny of their private lives. In the case of entertainment or sports celebrities, this reflects a market for stories about them, which is part of being famous and earning large amount of money. In the case of politicians, it is the media’s duty to examine and report on the behaviour of people in positions of power.
The
media’s
freedom of expression is an essential safeguard in a free society.
However
, it is
often
suggested that there should be limits to the
media’s
right to
report
on the
private
lives
of public figures. There are a number of
arguments
both in
favour
of and against this view.
Firstly
, it
is argued
that
politicians
should not be the objects of
media
scrutiny outside their work and that the
media
should not
report
information about them, such as
details
of their relationships, which is
generally
considered
private
.
However
, the counter-
argument
is that there are
some
politicians
who
use
privacy laws to cover up embarrassing information,
for example
, when they have
accepted
gifts in return for using their influence.
In other words
, it is
sometimes
in the public interest for the
media
to investigate
politician’s
private
lives
to reveal and deter such corruption.
A
further
argument
is that the
media
is more interested in making money that in telling the truth. Stories of scandals
involvig
well-known
people
increase newspaper
circulatiion
and attract larger the
inconvenieces
as well
as the benefits this brings.
A final
argument
is that when
media
reports
on
famous
people
’s
private
relationships, it
often
puts these relationships under tremendous pressure that they fail.
On the other hand
, opponents of this
argument
say that
many
celebrities promote themselves by
publicising
their
private
affairs in the
media
, and
only
complain about an invasion of privacy when problem arise.
In conclusion
, I believe that public figures
have to
expect
some
media
scrutiny of their
private
lives
. In the case of entertainment or sports celebrities, this reflects a market for stories about them, which is part of being
famous
and earning large amount of money.
In
the case of
politicians
, it is the
media’s
duty to examine and
report
on the
behaviour
of
people
in positions of power.