ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines some of the major points of law and ethics related to media professionals who communicate visually using photos and videos. The laws and ethics that govern the images are complicated by an ever-evolving mix of technology. Technological advances for photographers, particularly after the introduction of affordable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have added a new dimension to the issues concerning photographs on private property. In most cases public property is free of limits to photographers. Relationships between police officers and photographers have also been challenged by ability for citizens to easily post online video of officers' conduct. Video and photos without a clear news value are governed by somewhat different rules from journalism. Editors, art directors, and others who may select photographs for publication are responsible for knowing who owns the copyright and making sure that proper permissions are obtained before publication.
