Diana and the paparazzi

[Ian]

I watched the controversial Channel 4 Diana documentary this week and, have to say, I couldn't understand what the media fuss was about. That said, I can fully understand that it could not have been pleasant for Diana's children.

I did find it interesting from the perspective of the photographers that were at the scene of the crash - clearly they were unfairly treated and didn't do many of the the bad things many accused them of. That's not to say I'm pro-paparazzi; I think some of them do put their object in front of their morals.

But as a journalist myself, I feel that any suppression of law-abiding photographers, as seemed to happen in this case, is to be roundly condemned. Freedom of the press is a hard-won privilege in our society and nobody has the right to mess with it.

And for the record - I was personally very shocked and sadenned by Diana's demise. She was one of the few Royals that was worth her salt, even if she did, eventually, become part of the publicity machine herself.

Ian

[paul.r.w]

Re: Diana and the paparazzi

My experience of the paparazzi as an ex chauffeur is that they are aggressive, pushy, load mouthed, bad mannered scum who'd do anything for "their" shot! Sorry if I offend...not!

[Julia]

Re: Diana and the paparazzi

I watched the programme yesterday too and although I agree with Ian as to 'what was all the fuss about', I still believe the parparazzi contributed in a major way to the crash and to making Diana's life very unhappy.

I have no experience of the parparazzi personally but I have seen them chasing people and using very long lenses to invade people's privacy to get photos that they say we want to see.

I had no sympathy for any of them.

Julia

[cowcrzy06]

Re: Diana and the paparazzi

Hello all,

American paparazzi can be ruthless from what I have seen. Yet they seemed to be the first to condemn the British paparazzi when Diana died. It is a shame that a few bad apples can spoil it for the bunch. Honestly I believe that the whole thing is a sad ordeal. I did not see this show so I cannot comment on it.

[Ian]

Re: Diana and the paparazzi

My experience of the paparazzi as an ex chauffeur is that they are aggressive, pushy, load mouthed, bad mannered scum who'd do anything for "their" shot! Sorry if I offend...not!

I don't defend any photographers who behave like that. But to get back to the point of the programme, there appears to be a lot of evidence that contradicts claims from others, most of whom weren't at the scene, that the photographers who were there deliberately impeded the rescue services and must have been the direct cause the crash in the first place. If these popularly assumed poinst are indeed untrue, as the programme suggests, the subsequent treatement of the photographers was quite unforgivable.

Let's not forget that there would be no paparazzi if there was no market for the photography that they produce. Apparently millions of newspaper and magazine readers would prefer publications that carry paparazzi photos than other publications that don't. I'm certainly not one of them.

I've given up on newspapers full stop. But that's a personal preference - newspapers have a right to exist and we have a right to read them. But fundamentally, the paparazzi are a product of the market and that market is a large segment of Joe Public.

Ian

[Patrick]

Re: Diana and the paparazzi

I don't defend any photographers who behave like that. But to get back to the point of the programme, there appears to be a lot of evidence that contradicts claims from others, most of whom weren't at the scene, that the photographers who were there deliberately impeded the rescue services and must have been the direct cause the crash in the first place. If these popularly assumed poinst are indeed untrue, as the programme suggests, the subsequent treatement of the photographers was quite unforgivable.

Let's not forget that there would be no paparazzi if there was no market for the photography that they produce. Apparently millions of newspaper and magazine readers would prefer publications that carry paparazzi photos than other publications that don't. I'm certainly not one of them.

I've given up on newspapers full stop. But that's a personal preference - newspapers have a right to exist and we have a right to read them. But fundamentally, the paparazzi are a product of the market and that market is a large segment of Joe Public.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Diana and the paparazzi

I agree with you, Patrick, but in this case, if the rescue people and medics on the scene contradict the charges that these photographers were impeding them, which was the message from the programme, it seems to me that the abuse was from the authorities and some other interested parties. The photographers were arrested, strip searched and forced to hand over their film. That's what you'd expect from a police state. AFAIK nobody was convicted of any crime. These guys were guilty until proven innocent, it seems.

Ian

[Patrick]

Re: Diana and the paparazzi

I agree with you, Patrick, but in this case, if the rescue people and medics on the scene contradict the charges that these photographers were impeding them, which was the message from the programme, it seems to me that the abuse was from the authorities and some other interested parties. The photographers were arrested, strip searched and forced to hand over their film. That's what you'd expect from a police state. AFAIK nobody was convicted of any crime. These guys were guilty until proven innocent, it seems.

Ian

I didn't see the program, so i can't comment on the pariculars, my comments where more of a general nature.

Patrick

[Pol]

Re: Diana and the paparazzi

I agree with you, Patrick, but in this case, if the rescue people and medics on the scene contradict the charges that these photographers were impeding them, which was the message from the programme, it seems to me that the abuse was from the authorities and some other interested parties. The photographers were arrested, strip searched and forced to hand over their film. That's what you'd expect from a police state. AFAIK nobody was convicted of any crime. These guys were guilty until proven innocent, it seems.

Ian

I didn't see the programme so I can't comment on it. I don't know how 'free' the press is in France either compared to the UK but I most definitely agree 'freedom' should be used in a responsible manner.

I don't have much respect for the paparazzi with their long lenses, nor for the sensationalist puplications that pay large sums for their no-hold-barred shots.

On the same sort of theme, though concerning a UK regional staff photographer who was just going about his business and doing his job.

Here's what happened

and here's the sequel to the incident.


Pol

[Tinka]

Re: Diana and the paparazzi

Hi,
Pols post shows how things can get out of hand, I did not see the program so will not comment. However I do know that the law is slowly changing regarding peoples privacy and the right or not to take photographs of people on private property, Ie: the long lens saga continues, however as long as papers are willing to pay large sums for images news photographers will continue to chase and follow famous people and take many unuseable images in the hope of landing the big one. Now in the age of digital it is easy for them to take many more images cheaply to get just a few good ones. Lets also remember that not all news photographers can be classed as paparazzi nor uncaring.