"What is legal does not necesarily mean it is moral"
This sentence stood out for me in this week's presentation on the legal and ethical dilemma a
journalist might face.
It brought me back to an earlier scandal in Britain that got ALMOST everyone talking - yes, if it made it to Parliament, you can be sure it is big news.
Welsh footballer/superstar Ryan Giggs was named (and shamed) as the party who applied for a gagging order over the media with regards to the revelation of the Manchester United winger as an adulterous individual who slept with his sister-in-law. Although the mentioning of this particular incident was shot down by the Speaker of Parliament, the Opposition MP who brought this up wanted to highlight the enforceability of such a privacy law that didn't garner enough public support anymore.
A privacy law like this should exist to protect the secrecy of situations such as journalism and its sources or maybe a high-profile business deal involving two companies - not to maintain your popularity in wake of an exposed scandal.
Whilst it may be Ryan Giggs who warranted so much media attention. it can be suffice to say that the privacy law has got everyone listening as well. Laws of privacy are meant to protect those who really need it for serious matters, not to cover up an act of infidelity.
journalist might face.
It brought me back to an earlier scandal in Britain that got ALMOST everyone talking - yes, if it made it to Parliament, you can be sure it is big news.
Welsh footballer/superstar Ryan Giggs was named (and shamed) as the party who applied for a gagging order over the media with regards to the revelation of the Manchester United winger as an adulterous individual who slept with his sister-in-law. Although the mentioning of this particular incident was shot down by the Speaker of Parliament, the Opposition MP who brought this up wanted to highlight the enforceability of such a privacy law that didn't garner enough public support anymore.
A privacy law like this should exist to protect the secrecy of situations such as journalism and its sources or maybe a high-profile business deal involving two companies - not to maintain your popularity in wake of an exposed scandal.
Whilst it may be Ryan Giggs who warranted so much media attention. it can be suffice to say that the privacy law has got everyone listening as well. Laws of privacy are meant to protect those who really need it for serious matters, not to cover up an act of infidelity.
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