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? It isn’t always illegal to run some pictures, but often times it would be more ethical and respectful of the people if you didn’t run them.
3. What are some of the scenarios we discussed? We discussed someone being photoshopped into a picture to show diversity.
4. What are the four things a photojournalists can be sued for? Photojournalists can be sued for libel, copyright infringement, obscenity, and invasion of privacy.
5. What is libel? Libel is when someone is introduced to hatred or when someone’s reputation is ruined through the release of false information or a false picture.
6. What can you do to make sure you are not sued for libel? You shouldn’t manipulate your photographs and make sure you don’t use words or phrases that could be misunderstood.
7. What is the best defense against libel? Being completely truthful in your photos is your best defense against libel.
8. What is invasion of privacy? Invasion of privacy is when someone’s right to be left alone is violated.
9. When does a private citizen lose the right to privacy? A private citizen loses their right to privacy when the situation becomes newsworthy.
10. What is obscenity? Obscenity is when something is offensive or rude.
11. What is the LAPS test? The LAPS test is the criteria for determining obscenity- Literary, Artistic, Political, Scientific.
12. What is copyright? Copyright is what protects original works.
13. What should you do to avoid being sued for copyright infringement? You should only use your own work.
14. As a media representative, in which of these cases can you legally shoot a newsworthy event on private property? You can legally shoot on private property if someone’s house is on fire.
15. If someone threatens to sue your paper for libel for a picture that damaged their reputation, what could you do to avoid it? You could publish a picture that rebuilds their reputation.
16. If you wanted to pursue photojournalism in college, which school should you attend? Missouri
17. Standards that professional photojournalists strive to follow are called… NPPA
18. If you take pictures of someone in their home with a hidden camera, you can be sued for: Invasion of Privacy
19. If you use a telephoto lens and photograph students drinking beer in their backyard, you could be sued for: Libel and invasion of privacy