ABSTRACT
This chapter examines a range of issues concerning privacy and their ethical dilemmas for journalists. It needs to be fully understood that privacy becomes an issue at each point during the story production process: gathering information, researching and data storage, writing and publishing a story. People who choose to move into public life whether as a politician, a performer or simply someone who has a responsible role in society can expect to have reduced privacy in certain areas of their lives. The level of privacy will vary throughout one’s life. Children and young people should be able to guarantee considerable privacy. The law even protects children and young people charged and found guilty of criminal offences. There is a distinction to be made between public places and private places. This is particularly important for photographers and videographers. Private grief following a death requires care as does dealing with suicide both at the time and at the later coroner’s inquest.
