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Fashion Assignment 5 - Ethics and PCCJennifer Burgess

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Victoria BeckhamA fashion case study

ComplaintVictoria Beckham - designer of Victoria Beckham - complained to the Press Complaints Comission in 2009, that article in Ephraim Hardcastle’s column in Daily Mail had claimed that her range of Autume Winter 2009 dresses had been “black balled by Department store Brown Thomas.”She proclaimed to be inaccurate.

Publications DefenceThis is not available

OutcomeThe Daily Mail published a clarification.“Victoria Beckham’s Autumn Winter 2009 Collection will be exhibited at Brown Thomas in Dublin despite a curious announcement to the contrary reported on 25 February. ‘The label will compliment the world’s most celebrated international designers in our store,’ confirms Shelly Corkery, Head of Fashion Direction. Why should the doughty matrons of Dublin be denied the expertise of Mrs Beckham?”

From the information available it appears that the original column piece did contravene the first item of the PCC’s code which is accuracy. The clarification printed by the paper was completely opposite to the statements made in the original column confirming their inaccuracy. The original comments that a store was not stocking Victoria Beckham’s range could have had a detrimental effect on sales and the perception of the brand in the marketplace. So her complaint was justified and the outcome the correct

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Private places are public or private property where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.Press Complaints Commission's Code of Practice.

The scenario involving Isadora Widescreen and photos obtained of her leaving a church’s confessional box , I believe contravene the Press Complaints Commission's Code of Practice. The guideline I reference in particular is clause 3 - which refers to privacy. While a church is a public place I would suggest Ms. Widescreen had a “reasonable expectation of privacy” as per the guidelines, during her visit to this venue. The synopsis indicated that the claims about Ms. Widescreen and her involvement in the breakdown of the marriage of Clark Douglas were accusations only. So the publication of the photos conflicts with the privacy guideline:

ii Editors will be expected to justify intrusions into any individual's private life without consent. Account will be taken of the complainant's own public disclosures of information.

It did not appear in the synopsis that Ms. Widescreen had made any public statement about the situation.

The camping of the photographer outside her apartment may also be seen to constitute harassment. A further guideline on harassment states that:

ii They must not persist in questioning, telephoning, pursuing or photographing individuals once asked to desist; nor remain on their property when asked to leave and must not follow them. If requested, they must identify themselves and whom they represent.

If Ms. Widescreen has asked the photographer to leave, his ongoing presence would contravene this guideline

So I would suggest that Ms Widescreen would be justified in complaining about the publication of this photo.

Isabella WidescreenSomething to Confess

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The Press Complaints Commission codeand fashion modelsAs evident by a case upheld for Elle McPherson in 2007 concerning photos taken by Hello magazine while she was holidaying with her children on a secluded beach in Mustique, the key offering of the Press Complaints Commission for fashion models is the guideline for privacy.

This states that:iii) It is unacceptable to photograph individuals in private places without their consent.

This guideline provides clear demarkation between photographs of models which are taken for professional purposes and those which contravene their privacy thus offering some protection.

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