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VOYEURS (Hamsup Lo’s in Cantonese)
The term comes from the French voyeur, “one who looks”. A male voyeur is commonly labeled “Peeping Tom”, a term which originates from the Lady Godiva legend. However, that term is usually applied to a male who observes somebody through their window, and not in a public place.
What do you call a photographer who chases after a naked woman to photograph?
Quote: One senior male media personnel appeared extremely excited when he saw a naked woman in front of him. While training his camera on the woman, he scolded her in Malay: “Who asked you to cover (your body)?”
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Sundaily
Reject gutter journalism
Last updated on 5 August 2012 – 09:40pm
CENTRE for Independent Journalism (CIJ) regrets the reprehensible conduct of the journalists who overstepped their ethical and professional boundaries during a police raid on a suspected vice den in Selangor.
A journalist who was at the raid two weeks ago reported that some media photographers not only took pictures of the raid but tried to shoot women who were caught in various states of undress. Some went to the extent of using their personal mobile phones to capture these images and one even followed a woman trying to put on her clothes in a more private corner.
It would appear that these media personnel cannot distinguish their role as an independent documenter with the public interest in mind, and have instead abused their position. In doing so, the photographers have failed to observe one fundamental journalistic principle – to minimise harm on those they report on, whether they are sex workers, children, family members of victims, etc.
The conduct of these few journalists was all the more dismaying in view of the professionalism and integrity of their peers who had documented police abuse of Bersih 3.0 protesters at great risk to their safety.
But it is not only the journalists’ action that should be taken to task. The police conduct in allowing unhindered access in this instance again raises the need for a standard operating procedure to ensure that the rights of all parties – whether in a raid or a rally, be they journalists or alleged wrongdoers – are protected.
We note the inconsistency in treatment: in this raid, the media is given unhindered access, but during Bersih 3.0, journalists were practically stopped from doing their work when documenting police violence, had their equipment seized or damaged, with more than 12 cases of journalists arrested and/or even beaten.
While some may question whether the media has any role at all to play in a raid, we believe that the presence of journalists here, as in all cases involving authority, is necessary not only to report the event but also to check against possible abuse of power.
However, journalism ethics, which include the principle of minimising harm, should be adhered to at all times. Media personnel should not inflict needless pain to their subjects and must refrain from exploiting them.
The public and the media should understand that pandering to sensationalism and hype, though a short-term measure that increases readership, comes at a cost to people’s right to be informed of issues of public interest – such as corruption, abuse of power and betrayal of public trust – and to make the right choices.
CIJ urges newsrooms to hold the journalists to account for their actions. On the Home Ministry’s part, this incident and the Bersih 3.0 rally show the need for them to begin consultations to draw up a standard operating procedure in dealing with media, which takes into account international standards. CIJ also urges the public to reject sensationalist, gutter journalism that thrives on shaming and exploiting ordinary people.
Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia
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Malaysiakini
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11:27AM Aug 4, 2012 |
The presence of the media is necessary during anti-vice raids to witness possible abuses of power by enforcement officers, the Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia (CIJ) says.
“While some may question whether the media has any role at all to play in a raid, we believe that the presence of journalists here, as in all instances involving authority, is necessary.
“This is not only to report the event but also to check on possible abuses of power,” CIJ said in a statement yesterday.
Its stance is in contrast with that of Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), which two days ago said the police should stop taking media personnel on raids, especially to vice dens.
Nevertheless, CIJ said the ethics of journalism, which include minimising harm, should be adhered to at all times and that reporters should stop ‘exploiting’ their subjects.
The three groups were responding to a comment piece by Oriental Daily News crime desk reporter Loh Iee Wen, who reported on the behaviour of media personnel during a raid at a vice-den.
CIJ: Media necessary during anti-vice raids
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Malaysiakini
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Amidst news of a media pursuit to photograph naked women during a police anti-vice raid, calls have been aired for greater respect for news subjects as well as a stronger grip on journalistic ethics.
Women’s Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah said the police should stop taking media personnel along on the raids, especially to massage parlours.
“Why should the media be there in the first place? The police should have never invited the media,” said the long-time campaigner for fairer portrayal of women in the media.
“Over the years, whenever there is a raid, they (media have) tended to take photographs of naked women… The customers and employers have rarely been shown and this is sexist.
“It is a common practice but it is humiliating and disrespectful to the women. The portrayal of women in the media has always been problematic.”
WAO: Stop taking media on anti-vice raids
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Malaysiakini
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COMMENT Two weeks ago, the media was invited by the Selangor police to witness its anti-vice, gambling and secret societies unit in action.
Media personnel gathered at the Puchong Jaya police station that night and were given a short briefing by the enforcement team.
The team leader then told his 20-strong team that the police rarely bring the media along during a raid, reminding his subordinates to behave and not to embarrass themselves.
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One senior male media personnel appeared extremely excited when he saw a naked woman in front of him. While training his camera on the woman, he scolded her in Malay: “Who asked you to cover (your body)?”
The woman tried in vain to locate a private nook to dress herself, but the photographer tailed her until a police personnel said: “Forget it. Let her dress up.”
The media man slowly made his way out of the room, but stopped in front of a curtained cubicle to take photographs of another woman putting on her clothes.
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One suspected sex worker wore a short dress and in her haste, did not put on any underwear. As she sat down, several photographers and videographers noticed her exposed private part and quickly trained their cameras on her.
When the victim realised what was going on, she rushed back to a room to put on an underwear.
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Meanwhile, several female journalists were having a ball posing for photographs in front of the suspected sex workers.
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But that night, the members of the media were the ones who embarrassed themselves.
LOH IEE WEN is a crime desk reporter with Oriental Daily News. The above article appeared in Oriental Daily News on July 30, and is reproduced with permission.
Photographers have a ball at anti-vice raid
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weehingthong 