It takes only a few to ruin earned privileges!

[The press has a moral obligation to balance profits and public benefits, because it is the only business given explicit constitutional protection, says Lutman of the National Press Photographers Association. "It isn't necessarily our responsibility to give people what they want, it's to give them what they need. "Those who put profitability ahead of public service, he says, "are betraying our profession." ]

by Brooks Jarosz

bj186905@ohio.edu

In the article entitled, "The Diana Aftermath," published by the American Journalism Review, it is easy to see why the media was blamed and criticized for going too far with the story of Princess Diana's tragic death. I remember watching the funeral as a young boy and seeing the horrifying photographs on CNN. While some were disturbing, it drew me in to the story and made me keep watching.

As a journalist, many aspects of Diana's life and the accident were well covered. Reviewing these reports do, however, resemble entertainment values rather than true journalistic news values. With "a diversity of not only sources, but alternatives to news" as described by Ed Turner of CNN, incidents like this show how difficult it is to distinguish between tabloid media and mainstream media.

Comparison: Diana's Death & Palmerfest

The paparazzi behavior on the night of Diana's death could be blamed for the accident. Questions of privacy, responsibility and Press Freedom all play into this story. There is a gray, blurred line that separates journalistic excellence from irresponsibility and disrespect. It is a privilege to be able to report and photograph without strict government oversights, unlike nations such as China and Japan. It only takes a few abusive "journalists" to ruin a societal responsibility in covering daily stories fairly.

These individuals, termed paparazzi, are similar to those engaging in unruly conduct this past weekend during Palmerfest. The yearly festival on Palmer Street in Athens, Ohio, was shut down after fires were set in the streets and "a near riot" occurred. Some immature individuals assaulted officers with beer cans and other airborne objects. Now, the celebration which 8,000 people attended is questionable for future years and the amount of police presence if the festival continues.

Hard to believe that a festival, which has been peaceful for many years, can change in the blink of an eye. Press freedom is no different. Working for years to establish 1st Amendment Rights can easily be taken away if critical abuses are made. So what is our responsibility? It begins with respect and fairness. Let's seek the truth, report it, and stray from creating a story in the pursuit of flashy, celebrity nothingness.