If you become the subject of a news story, you may wonder what types of privacy protection you have. The answer will differ for private citizens and public figures.
The Online News Association explains the basic rule depends on your expectation of privacy. If you are a celebrity or public figure, then you have a lower expectation than a private citizen because you are in the public eye. This means journalists and reporters may not give you as much privacy as they would a private citizen.
Those reporting the news also have some ethical considerations when it comes to the privacy of the people they report about. Ethics are not always the same with every reporter, journalist or photographer.
In general, those reporting should try to avoid being too evasive into your personal life. You should be able to expect that your family members or friends will not end up in stories about you.
The situation also plays a role in your privacy. If you are in a public place or a public event, then you have far less privacy than if you were in your home or at a private event.
In any situation where you are doing something or involved in something that is newsworthy or drawing attention, you can expect that you will have less privacy than you would going about your daily business.
The bottom line is that reporters are trying to get the story. If you are part of the story, then they will talk about you, but if you are a private citizen, the coverage will usually be far more limited than if you were a public figure.
