The press has the power to influence virtually all areas of our lives. Words and images are combined to produce various messages and meanings. All that is presented to us undoubtedly has an effect; whether it be positive, negative or neutral. In some countries the press is seen as an instrument for exposing the truth, and in others it is seen as an obstacle to the truth and a mechanism for propaganda.

The Press Council is an industry-funded body designed to ensure journalistic standards and to deal with complaints concerning the press. The body does not have any power to enforce punishment on those who do not comply with the set standards. The Council relies on voluntary adherence to the standards and the admission of mistakes publicly.

It is virtually impossible for the press, in all situations to follow all principles set out by the Press Council. Press Council Principle No. 3 states that "readers of publications are entitled to have news and comments presented to them honestly and fairly and with the respect for the privacy and sensibility of individuals". It

People who have standing and power within society, and are accountable and answerable to society (such as politicians), should expect to get at least some attention from the press. Yet, when a person decides to become a public figure, where is the distinction made between what in fact is 'public life', and what is 'private life'? Public life and private life often collapse into each other.

It is all very easy for the Press Council to write out a list of principles, but how can Press Council Principal 3 be applied to reporting a rape case where a man is convicted of raping his daughter. If the father was identified upon his conviction, the victim (his daughter) would also be automatically identified. The privacy of individuals, according to the principle, should be protected. However, by doing this, the public's 'right to know' (also a part of the Principle) is being violated because the right to privacy should not prevent publication of matters of significant public interest. Should the public be informed about criminals living in their neighbourhood? Eg. the rapist.

Although the tape taken was regarded as unsuitable to broadcast by some people in the newsroom, the news director overruled the objections and decided to screen the footage regardless. Newsroom staff and the family of the victim (who were not consulted) saw the footage for the first time when it was broadcast on the 6p.m. news. The story opened with footage of a memorial service for the young victim along with footage of the family and photos of the child before the child's death.

Hypocrisy and double standards revealed by public figures such as politicians should also not be tolerated, and therefore exposed by the press. For example, if a politician's election platform is the importance of family values, the sacred nature of marriage, and the immorality of adultery, it is expected that the politician will live up to that political platform. If he/she is proven to have committed adultery, then the platform on which that particular politician stood has been destroyed. In this case, the public has the 'right to know'. The politician has given up the right to keep his/her private life separate and distinct from his/her public life. "It would not be right for the media to cover up real or alleged sexual scandals, nor to blow them up out of all proportion" (Belsey, 1992). If a sex scandal needs to be exposed then it must be reported honestly, and as fairly as possible.

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Approximate Word count = 2381
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)