Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1983

Publication Title

Case Western Reserve Law Review

Keywords

first amendment, freedom of the press, journalism, false-light invasion of privacy

Abstract

The ''ambush" interview is a controversial investigative reporting technique permeating both national and local television news programming. In the typical ambush interview, a reporter and his news crew intercept an unsuspecting newsworthy subject on the street and bombard him with incriminating accusations ostensibly framed as questions. The ambush interviewee inevitably appears guilty before the viewing audience. This is due to a variety of forces, including the subject's severe credibility disadvantage and the accusatory nature of the reporter's questions. This Note applies a false light invasion of privacy analysis to the ambush technique and examines the nexus between the technique and the goals of first amendment freedom of the press. It concludes that the ambush interview inherently creates false light invasions of privacy and is contrary to the fundamental goals of freedom of the press.

Volume

34

Issue

1

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