Friday a former People Magazine freelance writer filed a law suit against a Hollywood photo agency for wages accumulated from a Heath Ledger video tape of the actor using drugs. The suit states that the $1 million accumulated revenue from the secretly filmed tape should have been forfeited under California law. It accuses Splash News & Picture Agency of paying for cocaine that was allegedly used by two of its photographers in 2006 in persuading Ledger to use. Because of Ledger's widely reported struggles with substance abuse, the photographers filmed Ledger, the tape surfacing after his death earlier this year.
This is a classic case of paparazzi doctoring or setting up drama to report. I've heard of sensationalism, but give me a break. As reporters we are taught to stay authentic with coverage but simultaneously we have been ingrained with the public's right now know. Where is this line drawn? And how do we attempt to prevent actions like these from occurring? Obviously Ledger should have been smart enough to make sure the tape was destroyed. But doesn't this further the public's mistrust of the media. I'm just a reporter but it seems difficult for others to distinguish the difference between a thorough reporter and hounding paparazzi.
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