11-14-12 Laws and Ethics Study Guide Questions:

1. Things to know for the test:

2. What is the difference between breaking photojournalist ethics and breaking the law?

Ethics is what you can do but should you do it and breaking the law is doing something illegal. 

3. What are some of the scenarios we discussed?

4. What are the four things a photojournalists can be sued for?

Copyright infringement, invasion of privacy, libel and obscenity 

5. What is libel?

When someone is exposed exposed to hatred, ridicule, or has his/her reputation damaged as a result of false information that has been published.

6. What can you do to make sure you are not sued for libel?

Publish only true photographs and cutlines! Don’t use “humor or words that have double meanings in cutlines.

7. What is the best defense against libel?

If it is truthful

8. What is invasion of privacy?

Rights to be left alone

9. When does a private citizen lose the right to privacy?

If it’s newsworthy 

10. What is obscenity?

This is NOT within constitutionally protected speech or press. 

11. What is the LAPS test?

Does the work lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value? (LAPS test)

12. What is copyright?

Applies to ” orignal works of authorship ” Protects creative works.

13. What should you do to avoid being sued for copyright infringement?

Use it for educational purposes.

14. As a media representative, in which of these cases can you legally shoot a newsworthy event on private property?

If it’s a crime scene, arrests, and accident

15. If someone threatens to sue your paper for libel for a picture that damaged their reputation, what could you do to avoid it?

If it really happened, you can’t be sued.

16. If you wanted to pursue photojournalism in college, which school should you attend? 

Missouri