Journalism and the Debate over Privacy

At a time when debate on privacy is largely captured by the Internet, this work situates the discussion elsewhere, in the landscape of professional journalism. Privacy problems present the widest gap between what journalism ethics suggest and what the law allows. This edited volume examines these problems in the context of both free expression theory and newsroom practice. Including essays by some of America's foremost First Amendment scholars, the book has two parts. Part one is an examination of privacy in theoretical terms, intended to get the reader thinking broadly about conceptual problems in discussions about journalism and privacy. Part two builds on the theoretical underpinnings and looks at privacy problems as they are experienced by working journalists. Discussed are the following: privacy as a socially-constructed right - a moving target that changes with technology, social norms, national experience, and journalistic practice; privacy as both a property and a commercial right; privacy in terms of journalism ethics and journalistic codes; privacy as an attribute of press independence from government; and Bartnicki v. Vopper and its implications for journalism.