Photographers Share Blame for Princess Di's Death
Monday, April 21, 2008 @ 06:36
The court also issued a decree that the photographers shared a great deal of the responsibility for her death in their senseless pursuit of the vehicle she was riding in.
The verdict came about as a result of a British coroner's inquest. Its purpose, however, was not to assign blame for the deaths of Diana and boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, but rather to determine how they died and perhaps prevents such tragic deaths from occurring in this manner in the future.
The case of Diana's death has been investigated endlessly since 1997 and the manner in which she died has brought to light the dangerous conditions photographers often cause when they pursue their prey in hopes of getting just the perfect photo. Tabloids pay good money for photos of celebrities and that money is often what keeps food on the table for struggling photographers seeking their "big break" in the field. These photographers, and their journalistic colleagues, will do almost anything to get a shot or a story, and that "anything" has often included engaging in high speed chases on busy highways and other unsafe acts.
The symbolic fine that was levied by the French Court in Princess Diana's death was clearly an attempt to shed some light on these practices, and to raise public awareness of the fact that there is a price to be paid for that "candid" photo they see in the tabloids, a price far greater than the mere check that was issued to the photographer in payment for his work.
