1. David Campbell vs. Channel 7
Private or Public ?
Shuang CHEN (Dorothy)
Chen LIU (Sophia)
Dowon SON
1

2. Content
•Background of the issue
•Significance of the issue
•Analysis of 5W and H
•How it relates to contemporary media
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3. It is me.
Who is David
Campbell?
-Member of the NSW legislative
Assembly for Kiera
-Former mayor of Wollongong.
-In 2003, a minister for regional
development and small business under
Bob Carr.
-In 2006, a minister of water utensil
-He was a minister of transport from 2008. 3

4. -On May 2010, Channel 7 aired the
footage of him, getting out of a Gay
club in Kensington.
-Just 15 minutes before the
broadcast, David Campbell resigned,
saying for ‘personal reason’ Oh my
god!
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5. PRIVATE
vs.
PUBLIC
5

6. SMH Poll shows that the „Public interest‟ is
against the coverage.
“The coverage would be controversial, but
the public interest has backfired on seven.”
-- Peter Meakin
6

7. “Invasion of privacy is a serious matter,
the privacy protection extends to public
figures as well……However; the
subsequent application of the public
interest test to public figures may be a
different matter.”
-- Chris Chapman, ACMA
7

8. Commercial television
code allows stories that invade
privacy if there is an
“identifiable public interest” in
doing so.
8

9. “This is essentially a private matter.
It’s got nothing to do with anybody
else. No-one's sexuality is a matter
of public interest.”
-- Cameron Murphy, NSW Council
for Civil Liberties
9

10. Significance
Media as the Fourth Estate
Changing Role of Audience
Citizen Journalism
10

11. Critical Analysis of
5Ws & 1H
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12. As a public figure, Campbell has the responsibility to
be a role model for public. Sometimes he has to
Who sacrifice his right of privacy for the benefits from
being a public figure. But besides the role of a public
figure, he also is an Australian citizen, he has same
rights as others.
Certainly, visiting a gay bar is not an expectation
When that the public has on a “family man”.
He has the freedom of sexual preference, but
where Campbell built up his image as a good husband and
father, the situation is related to moral perspective.
What Apart from his gay bar visiting, his misuse
of government resource is undeniable.
Why Citizens have right to know double life of
politician. It created a controversy, but for
acting as a watchdog, Channel 7 has
How done their job.
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13. • The function of the press is to act as a check
on government. (Schramm 1957: 71-72)
• Channel 7 definitely has the right to
broadcast this issue.
•It can not be seen as breach the privacy of
Campbell.
•However, Channel 7 should have emphasised
his misuse of fund and poor performance,
rather than his personal life.
13

14. How the Issue
Relates to
Contemporary Media
Debate
14

15. Australian media involve in the
debate whether the intimate
life of Campbell, a politician, as
well as a public figure is his
privacy.
15

16. “The chapter of Australian history in which
politicians' private lives were their own to live
- secure in the knowledge no journalist would
report their nocturnal behavior - ended long
ago. ”
-- Andrew Stevenson
“Campbell‟s sexual interest has no bearing
on his public duties.”
-- Andrew West
16

17. Journalism ≈ Politics ?
attract some shallow
individuals in it to make
money and acquire fame Channel 7
attract people who are is not the
committed to the public winner.
interest.
-- Andrew West
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18. How media justify their intrusion
into politicians’ private lives
intimate life of politician affect
the performance of public duties
misbehaviour of politician
indicates a lack of discipline
Juntunen and Valiverronen 2010
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19. Conclusion
If Campbell did something wrong related to
his work, then it is justice to put his behaviour
under the judgment of public.
If it is about his personal life, the media
should respect to his privacy.
In this case, it is justified for Channel 7 to
cover the story due to public interest and
supervision of the government in terms of
ethics.
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20. References
Dennett H 2011, "Some of us knew Campbell was gay — and chose not to
report", Crikey, 11 Feb 2011
Dick. T 2011, "Seven News invaded minister's privacy, but no breach", The Age,
10 Feb 2011
Foschia Liz 2010, "Minister quits over gay sex club visit", ABC, 21 May
High Court Australia http://www.hcourt.gov.au/
Juntunen, L and Valiverronen, E 2010 ‘Re-negotiating the boundaries of private
and public in political journalism’, Journalism Studies, Vol. 11, No 6, 2010,
817_831, accessed 19 May 2011 from Routledge
Knox, D 2011, "ACMA’s message is the end justifies the means", TV tonight, 11
Feb 2011
Krudger, P 2011, "Channel 7 invaded privacy over David Campbell story", ABC,
10 Feb 2011
Lewis, D 2010, “Outing of MP a disgrace, says Kirby”, Sydney Morning Herald,
24 May 2010
McKee, A 2005, The public sphere: an introduction, Cambridge University Press,
UK
MEAA CODES http://www.alliance.org.au/
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21. Meade. A 2011, "Seven safe despite Campbell privacy breach", The Australian, 10 Feb
2011
Moore, M 2010, "Politicians' private lives in the media's sights", Sydney Morning Herald,
23 May 2010
Oloyede, B 2005 ,Press Freedom: A Conceptual Analysis, Department Of Mass
Communication, Moshood Abiol,a101-109 (2005)
http://www.law.qut.edu.au/staff/lsstaff/dbutler.jsp
Penberthy. D 2010, “Why David Campbell has a lesser right to privacy”, The Punch, 21
May 2010
Seven news "ACMA rules Seven's report on David Campbell is in the public interest",
news.com.au, 10 Feb 2011,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia9gPF8BEM0
Stevenson, A 2010, ‘The days of privacy in politics are gone’, Sydney Morning Herald,
accessed 17 May 2011,
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/the-days-of-privacy-in-politics-are-gone-
20100520-vozc.html#ixzz1Ms1mzKyD
West, A 2010, ‘Manufactured scandal leaves another political career in tatters’, Sydney
Morning Herald, accessed 17 May 2011,
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/manufactured-scandal-leaves-another-
political-career-in-tatters-20100521-vzzq.html#ixzz1Ms14VCNZ
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