French Law - Impacts Photogs - FYI

[S.Horton]

Interesting current thread on this:
http://www.sportsshooter.com/message...html?tid=24074

[Mark_Cohran]

Scary what a lot of "free and democratic" countries are getting up to these days.

Mark

[blackshadow]

What is the definition of a journalist under these laws? Is a freelance photographer who submits photos to publications a journalist? This law while serious sounds like a half baked joke. I know French laws are strange but surely there would have to be some way to get it tested in court and thrown out.

[PhotosGuy]

...identifying them as government-approved sources of information

"1984" came & went, & the French are just catching up?

[Croasdail]

I wouldn't be too worried about it. I think this is meant to address the rash of self recorded acts of violence that have been seen on places like youtube and the like. It is likely one of those laws they try to enact that is rarely ever used. I know this is a bad example, but when was the last time you saw a cop strictly enforce the speed limit. Everyone knows there is a grace amount before you actually get a ticket. 65 mph really means 70+. Anyway, yes it is a slippery slope, but and entirely unenforceable law should they try to really crack down on it. Camera's are all over the place now - cell phones, pda's, etc. I am not too worried, and I spend a fare amount of time in France.

[frenchdub]

Hi there

I worked for 15 years in Paris and to qualify as a journalist you have to have the "Carte de Presse". To get this you need to work for a recognised news organisation. Your dossier is submitted and approved by the Carte de Presse committee.

As a foreign journalist usually your local Press card will suffice for one off stories, but if you are going to spend any time in France you need to get a Press credential from the French foreign ministry, by presenting a letter from you employer.

You also get issued with an armband... which it is a good idea to wear if you cover any out side demo etc... or you could get arrested or beaten by the riot police... None of this actually prevents it but can help... A colleague of mine got thrown down some steps by the CRS once resulting in a broken knee..

France has always had really strict rules about shooting people's pictures.. most of the "People" mags get fined repeatedly. Some of the French celebs earn more from court judgements than from their 'Star' career.

all good fun.

Regards
Gareth

[S.Horton]

Wow.

[NickSimcheck]

Originally Posted by hortonsl62

Wow.

Exactly.

[Tommy]

Note to self: don't move to France.

[frenchdub]

Brilliant country... but has it's strange bits....

That said.. it was the world stage for photo journalism... and I was privileged to have worked there in the 80's and 90's..

regards
G

[condyk]

Big deal over nothing ...

[Croasdail]

Originally Posted by TomC723

Note to self: don't move to France.

Lived there 5 years... I get back 3 or 4 times a year. Awsome place. They know how to live rather then work themselves into an early grave worrying about who has the biggest house or newest car. Love the States too... just don't discount them. Every country has it's share of goofy laws, we do too. We could learn a thing or two from them on lifestyle I think... cheers.

[canonphotog]

Too really understand what this is about you need to search the news for yourself. Try searching for "happy slapping" . You discover that this is a law with broad implications even though it was created to curb a specific set of events.

[S.Horton]

Originally Posted by Croasdail

Lived there 5 years... I get back 3 or 4 times a year. Awsome place. They know how to live rather then work themselves into an early grave worrying about who has the biggest house or newest car. Love the States too... just don't discount them. Every country has it's share of goofy laws, we do too. We could learn a thing or two from them on lifestyle I think... cheers.

I work for a French company. They're constantly sizing people up. Very interesting people. Oddly, their expectation is that a client will just accept late or invented things. We'll see how it goes. Maybe they're on to something.

[Julio]

->> Jon said that "UK. may introduce a measure that will restrict street photography" - as a Deputy Chairman of the British Press Photographers' Association, this is news to me! There have been a few scare stories around but nothing from our Home Office which is the branch of government that would introduce such a measure.

The Police in the UK have a love hate relationship with news photographers but I believe that they would baulk at asking the Home Secretary for such a measure.

The cynic in me even says that it would go against the interests of The Police who try very hard to use still and video images taken from amateur (and occasionally from professional photographers) as damning evidence in a wide variety of cases.

Neil.

I read an official reply to this rumor that stated, basically, the same.