1 They hide in trees, dangle from helicopters, - even chase people down on motorcycles - all so that they can snap a shot of a celebrity. They are paparazzi - freelance photographers who make a living by taking pictures of the rich and famous.
2 This September, California, a state with plenty of celebrities, passed a law aimed at clamping down on paparazzi. The law prohibits photographers from trespassing on private property to take pictures, from using high- tech devices (such as telephoto lenses) to take pictures of people on private property, and from “persistently following or chasing someone in order to take a picture.” Violators can be fined or spend time in jail. The United States Congress is considering passing a similar law.
3 Supporters of the California law say it will protect the privacy of celebrities, whom paparazzi have been bothering for years. Opponents say the law restricts photojournalists from doing their job.
Stop snooping
4 Most celebrities seem to like having their pictures taken when they are in public at award shows or other events. After all, it’s free publicity. But when they’re not in public, they say, photographers should leave them alone. Yet paparazzi have been known to peek in windows and worse. Actor Michael J. Fox said that paparazzi have even “tried to pose as medical personnel at the hospital where [my wife] was giving birth to our son.”
5 Celebrities have as much right to their privacy as anyone else, supporters of the law contend. Supporters further argue that the California law is a fair way to keep the press at bay, because the law still allows photographers to do their job. It only punishes them, supporters say, when they invade celebrities’ privacy.
The law is flawed
6 Opponents of the law say it violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees that no laws will be made to limit “the freedom of speech, or of the press.” Although some people might not consider paparazzi a part of the legitimate press, the California law does not single out paparazzi. It applies to photographers working for any publication.
7 Opponents of the law are also concerned about its wording. “Does ‘persistently’ mean following someone for six minutes, six seconds, or six days?” asked attorney Douglas Mirell. The wording of the law is too vague, critics complain, and could be used to punish almost any news photographer.
8 The United States needs a free press to keep the public informed about important issues, paparazzi law opponents say. Limiting the press in any way, they argue, limits the freedom of all.
9 Is California’s law fair or unfair to photojournalists? Why?
Adapted from Current Events.
Sometimes brackets [ ] are used to show corrections, explanations, or translations in someone else's speech or writing. For example, my wife (par. 4) probably replaces the name of Michael J. Fox's wife.
Predicting
Understanding main ideas
Guessing meaning from context
Distinguishing
arguments
Relating reading to personal experience
B
Look at the title and the picture on the opposite page. Then check (✓) the statement that you think best describes what the text will be about.
1. California has no laws to stop photographers from taking pictures of celebrities.
2. A new California law protects photographers from celebrities who don’t want their pictures taken.
_3. Support is mixed for a new California law to stop photographers from
taking pictures of celebrities.
Scan the text to check your prediction. Then read the whole text.
Write the number of the paragraph or paragraphs next to each main idea.
_4 a. This paragraph explains why celebrities think the law is necessary.
b. This paragraph presents the supporters’ and opponents’ opinion of the law.
c. This paragraph discusses why people support the law.
d. These paragraphs discuss why people oppose the language used in the law.
e. This paragraph describes various aspects of the law.
_ f. This paragraph defines paparazzi.
1. damp down (par. 2)
2. trespass (par. 2)
3 .fine (par. 2)
4. single out (par. 6)
5. vague (par. 7)
a. charge money as a punishment
b. not clearly stated
c. control
d. choose for special treatment
e. enter property without permission
Table captionComplete the chart.
Arguments against the law | Arguments in favor of the law | |
1 . | restricts people from doing their job | |
2. | - | |
3. |
1. Why do you think the public is so interested in the lives of celebrities?
2. Do you think the California law is fair or unfair to photojournalists? Why?
3. Would you like to be a photojournalist? Why or why not?
