ABSTRACT

A special area in media law focuses on when an individual's right to privacy is effectively waived in the service of the democratic political process. An individual surrenders much of his or her right to privacy by voluntarily entering the political arena to run for elected office or to become a candidate for a political appointment. Copyright law has always evolved in reaction to the social and political value placed on intellectual property, and on the artists and writers who create intellectual properties. International media law covers more than copyright laws and treaties. The law leaves few recourse rights for political figures, other than their own ability to use the media to counterattack when they are targeted by media scrutiny. One of the important efforts at self-regulation within the media is the establishment of professional codes of ethics. A code of ethics is a clear statement of ethical guidelines developed to help individuals make decisions.