Q&A

When asked to interview a professional about either being the paparazzi or being effected by the paparazzi, no one came to mind. However, since my interests are in the feild of public relations, and publicity from photographs are a big part of PR, I decided to talk to a Public Relations professional about positive and negative effects of the paparazzi on celebrities and how it effects the public's view of both parties.

Denise, a professional in the Public Relations feild, was gracious enough to grant me this Q&A

Q: Do the paparazzi play a big role in celebrities fame? How?

A: The saying all publicity is good publicity is true in this case. The more a celebrity's picture is wanted, the more a publication will pay. If you are in the public eye, and wish to stay there, in general a person must preform dramatic, attention grabbing, charitable, or even borderline crazy actions. Take Britney Spears for example, her actions are the only thing keeping her in the public eye.

Q: In todays society where lines are crossed every day, do you think the paparazzi take it to far at times?

A: When privacy is stripped from a person, that seems to cross a line. Being unable to walk your dog, or take out the trash without looking over your shoulder seems un necessary. However people enjoy knowing that celebrities are human. The only line a paparazzi crosses at times is the legal line, where they have tresspassed onto private property or attained a picture that was not taken from plain sight in a public venue.

Q: As a PR professional, do you find paparazzi to be a hassle or a help?

A: In general, paparazzi pictures focus on mug shots, underage drinking, or the all too famous cellulite shots. These pictures will not destroy a career but is ultimately embarrassing for the celebrity. Whether I think it helps? It depends on the severity or the picture.

Thank you Denise for you professional point of view.

Paparazzi Overview

Celebrity gossip magazines are a facinating trend. People all over the world can't get enough of celebrities failed marriages, difficult break ups, pregnancies, and weight issues. The people that are supporting these obsessions with celebrities are the paparazzi. Privacy is no longer an option for the stars of Hollywood, paparazzi will do whatever it takes to get the picture that will sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some cross the line of personal space while others will break the law with high speed car chases or trespassing on private property.

The following article http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9709/01/diana.paparazzi/index.html was written back in 1997 after the death of Princess Diana. Debates on whether the death of the Princess was due to being chased by photographers is still up in the air, but ten years later the issue of paparazzi has not improved. Sylvester Stalone has said the paparazzi are "stalkers, legalized stalkers."

There are two types of photographers, those who are hired by a publication to take specific pictures for real news material, and those who take their own pictures and auction them off for the highest price. The uncontrolled photographers are the most dangerous. But as long as people keep buying the US Weekly's and Okay Magazine's, the business of inappropriate photography will continue to strive.