USEFUL VOCABULARY
- To follow a lead
- paparazzo/paparazzi/amateur paps
- revulsion/respect for their profession
- a tip-off/to tip off the paparazzi
- to gather news
- to spot a celebrity
- agency/ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/
- news outlets
- news coverage
- exclusive /ɪkˈskluː.sɪv/
- a major scoop
- a click-bait story
- photojournalism
- tabloid journalism and sensasionalism /senˈseɪ.ʃən.əl.ɪ.zəm/
- to censor/impose strict censorship /ˈsen.sə.ʃɪp/
- Celebrity scandals
- sensational news
- To harass foreign journalists UK /ˈhær.əs/ AmE /həˈræs/
- to stalk a celebrity /stɔːk/
- to pursue or chase celebrities /pəˈsjuː/
- to catch up on the news
- to leak to the press
- to tackle misinformation
- invasion of privacy /ɪnˈveɪ.ʒən/ /ˈprɪv.ə.si/
- untrustworthy/reliable sources /ʌnˈtrʌstˌwɜː.ði/
- accuracy of the reports
- unverified information
- biased/unbiased
- to be in the limelight
- to be highly sought-after /ˈsɔːt ˌɑːf.tər/
Read the following stories where paparazzi play a key role and with a partner answer the question(s)
STORY ONE
📸
On the 31st of August 1997, Princess Diana died in a car accident in Paris. She was thirty-six years old.The cause of the accident was the excessive speed of the vehicle as it was confirmed that the couple was being persecuted by paparazzi.
These paparazzi photographers were taken into custody after the crash that killed Diana. They were cleared of manslaughter charges in a French court.
Discuss in Pairs: Can the Press be Blamed for Princess Diana's Death?
STORY 2
♛
This is Thelma Ortiz, Queen Letizia's sister
Queen Letizia's sister is a celebrity whether she likes it or not. But she is not happy about it.
A judge rejected a request for Thelma Ortiz for a restraining order barring media outlets from filming her, arguing she's a public figure despite her wishes.
Ortiz argued she is not a celebrity and said the media has invaded her privacy repeatedly.
She has sued about 50 news outlets but judge Padilla said a restraining order would be "legally unviable" because she and her partner were in the limelight, even if they claimed otherwise.
The judge ordered them to pay undisclosed court costs
Discuss in Pairs
Are members of the royal family entitled to a private life?
DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING
Let's talk about celebrities now. Whole Class Discussion
Want fame? Kiss your privacy goodbye.
Celebrities need to be aware that the public’s curiosity has no convenient “on/off” button. That said, it might be unfair to expect them to give up their rights to privacy and completely let the public into their private lives. Do celebrities deserve their privacy, or is being in the public eye an inevitable part of the lifestyle they signed up for?
FROM A DIFFERENT LENS: LISTENING COMPREHENSION
Paparazzi Killed Trying to Follow Justin Bieber
Before watching the video. Discuss: How difficult is it to work as a paparazzi?
Watch the video and retell the story including the following prompts:
- Ferrari
- Justin's friend
- Police
- SUV
- Bieb's official statement
- Miley Cirus
After watching the video discuss in pairs:
- Who do you think is to blame for the death of the paparazzi?
- Are there laws against paparazzi in your country or what they're allowed to do in your country?
Quick Questions: SpeedChatting
- Do you think it's moral to sell your private life?
- Do you approve of people who become famous as a consequence of appearing again and again in the media and not because of having an artistic career?
- What do you think of the paparazzi? Why do you think there is such high demand for gossip magazines and gossip TV programmes?
Choose one of the following statements and prepare a short speech of about 5 minutes
Privacy is the natural price of fame
Fame does not necessitate a loss of privacy.
Credits:
Created with images by KlausHausmann - "photographer paparazzo paparazzi" • monros - "photographer camera man"