On Apr 6, 7:24=A0am, "\(not quite so\) Fat Sam"
<samandja...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> If I wanted to take journalistic photos of an event in the UK, what
would =
I
> need to consider from a legal point of view?
>
> Okay, some background on the event...
> Plans are afoot to dig a whopping great quarry in the heart of the
village=
> where I live.
> The villagers are completely opposed to it.
> The parish council say they're opposed, but they don't seem to be doing
> anything very much apart from having closed doors meetings where the
publi=
c
> aren't invited.
> I have established a website to give the villagers a single unified
voice
> and bring our plight to the attention of the world.
> Part of running this site will involve publi****ng regular re****ts of
> meetings and things like that.
>
> Now, the parish council have finally called a public meeting in the
villag=
e
> hall this coming Saturday, and invited the village to attend.
> I plan to go along with my camera and an MP3 recorder to get photos and
> interview people for the site, and also to get photos and a re****t of
the
> meeting.
>
> I'm anticipating objections to my photographing the parish councillors
and=
> the event in general.
> Do they have any right to damand that I stop photographing the event?
>
> If they do make this demand, what possible comebacks can I use?
>
> Could I get away with telling them that the site is pulling nearly 2000
hi=
ts
> a day, and that if they're opposed to the site, then in the spirit of
free=
> journalism, I'm left with no option but to publish that as a story on
the
> front page, and in doing so point out that by taking a stance against a
> website that objects to the quarry, they are in effect taking a stance
> against the feelings and opinions of the entire village?
>
> The village hall, as I understand it, is a public place...
> Does a parish council have the right or power to impose a photography
ban
> there?
>
> --http://www.SavePentney.co.uk
> The online campaign to stop the quarrying of minerals in Pentney village
You would have to reference the laws in the UK that may directly
address this issue, or, contact a newspaper/organization and ask
because they deal with this on an ongoing basis.
As a photojournalist in the US, mostly what I will run into are
situations where people will make up a 'rule' or 'regulation' on the
spot to discourage taking pictures, but rarely in this type of
situation. The use of flash could be an issue because it might seem
disruptive.
I don't know that you need to think in terms of arguing for your
'rights' as a 'citizen' journalist in this instance, if they are
recognized at all. It sounds like you could probably just bring your
camera and go for it. If they object, then forget the pictures.
Outside of some emotionally charged exchange between the public and
officials, there really isn't much that would be of interest or
sup****tive of a story to photograph. How im****tant the potential
images are to a story is pretty much the criteria I have for how much
trouble I will take to get them.
Photographs are mostly used to sup****t the emotional content of the
story and, in a situation where I can't (for whatever reason) shoot
something like a meeting, I will take an alternative approach. If I
notice a particularly energetic speaker, I will note them and take a
picture of them afterwards as they expand on, or recount, what they
said before. That image will be inserted into the story and they are
usually the most effective ones.
The 'meat' of your story will be what is said at the meeting, the
points of view presented, how they are reacted to, what issues are not
raised or are side stepped; things like that. Your tape will provide
you with what you need there. Absent something dramatic and visually
interesting in the context of the story, your pictures won't make or
break the article.
As a 'citizen journalist', I would approach things about like this: I
would find out what the actual legal status of picture taking would be
and, even if it were prohibited, bring my camera and see if there is
any objection or if anyone even notices. Any of the good quality P&S
cameras would be good here. Also, don't forget the potential of
camera phones here. If you can get the camera in, you're good to go
and I would shoot until someone official noticed and stopped me. If,
or when, that happens, I would plead ignorance, apologize, remove the
memory card and turn over the camera for later pickup if that is
what's needed and go on with the coverage. Don't turn over the camera
with the memory card in it, ever. Just a rule I have.
I don't know if any of this will help you, so I wish you good luck.
Vance
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