The Symbiotic Relationship Between Celebrities and Tabloids.

Explain how celebrities and tabloids have a symbiotic relationship. In answering this question, use academic literature to discuss how tabloids and celebrities relate to each other, and paparazzi and invasion of privacy v. freedom of speech

What is a celebrity?

A celebrity refers to a widely recognised and famous person. They could belong to the entertainment industry such as Adam Levine or Kanye west, the sports sector such as David Beckham or they could be an author such as Dan brown or Nicholas sparks. Regardless of the field they belong to, a person acquires the celebrity status when they become well-known for what they do or the idea that they represent. Often, these celebrities become trend-setters, a source of inspiration and in some cases, a source of obsession. This is where tabloids come into existence.

Tabloids and the process of tabloidization

Tabloids are a form of print media- newspapers- except that the news they deliver is lurid and scandalous, often not entirely based on facts. This concept of tabloid journalism has, over the years, lead to the process of tabloidization i.e. condensed and sensational communication through any medium such as TV programmes, radio shows, the internet etc.

The symbiotic relationship between tabloids and celebrities

Over the years, there has been a shift in the content presented through media, be it electronic, print or otherwise. Where previously most of the press and print media focused on imparting information, contemporary media focuses on stories aimed merely at diverting or entertaining their consumers. (Turner, Bonner, Marshall, 2000) This change of media content is owing to the fact that celebrity news has gained impetus. It has proved its capacity to attract attention and drive consumption thereby taking over the subject matter of almost all media. (Turner, 2010) In fact, celebrities and tabloids have developed quite the symbiotic relationship – one could not exist without the other. There is a common element which links the two together, the element being the appeal of celebrity for media audiences. (Turner et al., 2000) Since the public is interested in knowing details about celebrities, the media finds it profitable to bring such information to them. Tabloids are what promote these celebrities and make them who they are – famous people. And in return, celebrities and their gossip brings the media an audience and revenues.

Paparazzi

The desire in the public to acquire more knowledge on stars is further satiated by paparazzi. Paparazzi refers to freelance photographers interested in candid shots of athletes, entertainers and other celebrities. Their desire to capture raw candid photos places them “outside the bounds of polite photography” (Mendelson, 2014)

Celebrities and their entitlement to their privacy

 These photographers and tabloid journalists though serve the general public and their demand for celebrity news, they often end up invading the privacy of such individuals. Celebrities at the end of the day, are people with private lives and normal routines and habits. They are not public servants and the general public as well as the media are not entitled to every tiny detail about their lives. (Jones, 2010) Since the First Amendment to the United States Constitution states that there shall be no restriction on the freedom of press and of speech, those violating the privacy of others have been using this as a counter-argument to the claim that the action is in itself, morally wrong. (Calvert, 2004) Their argument is thus that since there is no explicit mention in the constitution of the right to privacy, it is okay to violate it. However, the courts have recognised the constitutional right to privacy, the right ‘to be let alone’. (Nordhaus, 1999) Moreover, false publicity in the form of thrashing an individual’s image could be offensive to the person. (Zuckman,1990) Furthermore, a celebrity’s acceptance of general publicity cannot be translated into being an invite to their private matters. Also, the tolerance of some celebrities should not provide the media with the license to behave erratically. Some individuals actually cherish their personal space and secrecy and not everybody on their way to stardom wants their inside matters disclosed publicly. (Nordhaus,1999)

Media, Freedom of speech and the invasion of privacy

Despite such arguments, the media tends to pursue its invasion on the grounds that the press has a right to inform the public about matters of public interest. And since celebrities are created in the public spotlight, they themselves generate the interest in their activities. The public develops a connection with the idea of them and thus begins to feel entitled to knowledge about their private matters as well. Moreover, often many celebrities become ‘psychologically tolerant’ to the behaviour of paparazzi and the press since they are constantly exposed to it. This also supports the tabloids’ claim to freely report whatever they feel like, truth or false. Furthermore, since actors, politicians and the like, strive to reach the limelight and be widely recognised, it is often viewed as these individual’s seeking and consenting to publicity thereby making it alright for tabloid journalists and paparazzi to intrude in their personal lives which in effect, are not seen to be personal rather a property of the public. In addition, taking a photo in a public place is not considered as an act of violating privacy since the individuals are placing themselves under the scrutiny of the public. (Nordhaus,1999)

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