Should Paparazzi Laws Be Tougher?

The paparazzi has a seriously bad reputation. Members of the paparazzi are always getting assaulted by the celebrities they follow: Sean Penn, Chris Martin, Bjork, and most recently, Kanye West (read about Kanye West's incidents with the paparazzi here). Should the laws regarding the paparazzi be tougher? No.

Paparazzi is paid top dollar for those exclusive celebrity shots. The only way they are going to get those great candid celebrity shots is to follow and track the celebrity. While I don't agree with some of the tactics the paparazzi has used, like in the instance of Princess Diana's death, those tactics were against the law. The laws governing the paparazzi shouldn't be tougher; they should be enforced.

What celebrity doesn't like having media coverage? Celebrities are not naive going into the entertainment industry. Celebrities put themselves out there as idols to be worshiped, photographed and written about. They love the attention it brings, because the more popular the celebrity is, the more successful and therefore the higher paid the celebrity is. The paparazzi can make a celebrity's career.

The job of the paparazzi is not unlike the job of an online reporter. Look at my list of articles here at Associated Content. I have several articles about celebrities. There are several content producers on Associated Content who write about celebrity gaffes. Not only does celebrity behavior interest me, but celebrity news brings in lots of page views. Page views equal money.

So how is my writing about celebrity news different from the paparazzi? I am looking for the topics which are the most lucrative. The paparazzi are looking for the photographs and news items that are the most lucrative. Just because I do my job sitting in front of my desk instead of chasing the celebrity around all day doesn't make me any less a celebrity leech.

Even in my 'real' job as a newspaper journalist, I understand the need for the best photograph. While I'm not out chasing celebrities as a newspaper reporter, I am at times reporting on breaking news. I camped out in the lawn at the county courthouse, waiting for the woman accused of murder to be escorted out of the courthouse in her orange jumpsuit. When there was a huge explosion in the next town over, I got as close as I could to the blaze to get the best photograph possible. In both instances, I won awards for my photographs.

If the shoe was on the other foot, yes, I would be irritated having every moment of my life photographed and documented. I would be furious if I was constantly harassed on the street by the paparazzi. However, it's because of these reasons I haven't pursued a career which would put me in the limelight. Celebrities are famous because the paparazzi pays attention to them.

The bottom line is this. The paparazzi does need to be held in check in accordance to the laws already in place. It's illegal to trespass on private property. It's illegal to become involved in a car chase. It's illegal to physically detain a person against their will.

It is not illegal to take someone's photograph when they are out in public. It is illegal for celebrities to assault the paparazzi.