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Our interest or theirs? Celebrity and the Press

area where it will be impossible to frame a workable law' (Sanders, 2004. pg. 82). The problem for celebrities is that they are right at the center of the controversy.

Andrew Belsey believes it is hypocrisy' that celebrities can claim the protection of privacy because all such people live on the press and off the press; they require publicity and would shrivel without it.' (Belsey, 1994. pg. 85) That maybe so, yet if we consider Sanders' definition of hypocrisy' - that being a person who is guilty of private vice and publicly expounds a contradictory set of values' - perhaps we naively accept celebrities as role-models'. However, as Barton claims, celebrity' is usually a by-product of their pursuit of success in their particular field.' Childhood footballers, for example, simply wanted to be the best in the world, they did not wish to be role-models, and claim no special moral status.' (Barton, 2006) If invasions of privacy are acceptable where what is revealed is relevant to performance in public life', (Sanders, 2004. pg. 87) how is outing Arsenal footballer Ashley Cole as homosexual , and Naomi Campbell as a drugs user , relevant to him playing football and her exhibiting clothes on a catwalk?

This appears to be a utilitarian presumption that they are role-models', yet it is something that can only be justified by the way the media portray them. If the media did not investigate their private lives, then any role-model status would be confined to their chosen professions. In terms of football players, Duleep Allirajah argues, should we look to David Beckham or Micheal Owen for moral guidance? Certainly not.' (Allirajah, 2004) David Aaronovich continues, Young people might aspire to footballers' pay packets, but they have few illusions about their idols' muddy feet and human imperfections so why then are judges falling for the footballers-as-role-models' line?' (Aaronovich, 2004)

Therefore, since the role-model' is a media construct, they have no more right to celebrities private lives, than they have of anyone else. This seriously questions the validity of Belsey's argument that consent' to the depiction of celebrities private activities should be assumed'. (Belsey, 1994. pg. 89) It appears the media's justification for intruding into the privacy of celebrities can be clarified by Oscar Wilde's claim. He says the public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing'. (Hewson, 2004) The press just pander to these needs' in order


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Our interest or theirs? Celebrity and the Press

  • 1 of 7

    by Daniel Stephens

    It has to be taken into consideration what privacy' means in undertaking this question. As Merrill says, it's based on broad,

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  • 2 of 7

    by Kathy Miner

    The relevance of this question both escapes and troubles me. The true question to be posed pertains more to the pathetic

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  • 3 of 7

    by Gabriella Hope

    Never before has there been such evidence that the relationship between Celebrities and the press is little more than a marriage

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  • 4 of 7

    by Trina Ewing

    Celebrity and the press, for our interests or theirs. Celebrity's are often glamorized in the press. Whether there being

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  • 5 of 7

    by SH

    Celebrities are all the hype in magazines and television news. The paparazzi hunt down the celebrities to get a glimpse into

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