Reporter's privacy checklist

Reporter’s privacy checklist

Consent from the subject

•   Is the subject an adult? If not, do you have parental consent?

•   Is the person mentally or emotionally disabled and unable to give consent? Have you obtained valid consent from a guardian or other responsible party?

•   Has that consent been revoked?

•   Is the subject currently a private or public figure? Has the person’s status changed over time?

Method of obtaining information

•   Is it a public place?

•   If it is a private place, do you have permission to be on the premises and permission to interview or photograph?

•   Was the information contained in a public record? A semi-public record?

Content

•   Would publication of the information offend community standards of decency?

•   Have the facts been embellished with information of questionable accuracy?

•   Is the information outdated and not obviously of current public interest, or has a current event revived its newsworthiness?

•   Is the information vital to the story?