Overview
Despite its centrality to the daily lives of a variety of journalists, the topic of ethics is relatively unexplored. This work provides a comprehensive treatment of the subject.
Synopsis
Looking at the recent crises of confidence in public service broadcasting and the controversy surrounding docusoaps, Brian Winston's major new study examines ethics and the documentary. It lays out the arguments for and against close control and how the case for freedom of expression for the documentarist lines up against the rights of the subjects and the expectations of their audiences. The author looks at the history of documentary ethics, the implications of the centrality of documentary to public-service broadcasting, and the legal ramifications of the debate over the fake or staged presentation of the "real."
About the Author:
Brian Winston teaches at the University of Westminster and is a Governor of the British Film Institute. His books include Fires Were Started (BFI 1999) and Claiming the Real: The Documentary Film Revisited (BFI 1995)