Journalism Ethics: Photo/Video Rights

This past semester, I learned a little about journalism ethics in my Media Institutions (COMM 2084) class, including First Amendment rights. As our generation learns and grows with social media and technology, it becomes increasingly vital that we understand its impacts, potential and sphere of influence. Social media has given rise to many citizen journalists and continues to globalize our increasingly interconnected global society. We are not only citizens of a country, but citizens of the world. 

Here is a short video by the Washington Post on ethics and rights when it comes to civilian rights photography and videography involving law enforcement. Information is from a collaboration between the International Union of Police Associations and the National Press Photographers Association.

(I summarized the points below) 

1. You have the right to record and photograph police unless you’re physically interfering with them performing their duties.
2. You must be on public property, your own property or if you’re on private property, you must have permission from the owner.
3. Police can tell you to step back, but they cannot tell you to stop recording. They cannot order you to leave the area if other members of the public (without cameras) are allowed to stay.
4. If you’re going to record police, do it in an open and obvious manner. 
5. Police say you should avoid interfering and warn not all bystanders know and understand proper use of force. 
6. (acc. to the U.S. Department of Justice) Under the First Amendment, there are no circumstances under which the contents of a camera or recording device should be deleted or destroyed. 

The McKinney, Texas Pool Party

The debate over police brutality has been constantly making headlines with a new incident over the past months. Without context, stories are easily manipulated or twisted to favor the speaker's opinion (but what goes without bias?). In the most recent episode, the McKinney, Texas pool party, on June 16, 2015, Brandon Brooks, a 15-year-old teenager, posted a seven-minute video showing a police officer using force on a teenage girl to establish order and control when a pool party got out of hand.

Being aware of context when absorbing information from the news is imperative to understanding. That being said, here is a list of facts concerning this particular incident: 

•  According to a 2015 estimate, the population of McKinney, Texas is at 155,142 people. It was number one on TIME Money's list, Best Places to Live in 2014. According to 2010 census data, 75 percent of the town residents are white and 10 percent are black. 
• The pool party was hosted by Tatyana Rhodes at Craig Ranch North Community Pool. According to the McKinney police department, they were answering residents' concerns about "multiple juveniles at the location, who do not live in the area or have permission to be there, refusing to leave." The Homeowner's Association rules prohibit more than two guests at the pool. Officers arrived at 7:15 p.m. local time on Friday.
• According to Rhodes, a racially-charged fight started after two white women told a group of African-American teenagers they should "leave and go back to their Section 8 homes." Brooks said he was one of the "only white people in the area when it was happening." He explained that the fight was between a mom and a girl, and that Becton was "running her mouth," but freedom of speech did not warrant Casebolt's actions. 
• Cpl. Eric Casebolt, the officer who is seen briefly pulling a gun and putting his knees on the back of Dajerria Becton, 15, (in addition to shouting profanities) was put on leave and later resigned after meeting with the department's internal affairs uint to review possible charges. He was a 10-year veteran of the McKinney police department. His lawyer, Jane Bishkin, explained he was under the stress of the day and "allowed his emotions to get the better of him." 
• "I'm happy that he's resigning," Rhodes said. "I feel that everyone in McKinney will feel better that he's resigning... it's the first step." 
• According to Michael Quattrin, a community resident whose Facebook post has been shared more than 100,000 shares, explained the situation: 
• "The teenagers (both black and white) were being brought into our neighborhood by the carload because the DJ was tweeting out invites to a “pool party” for $15 (obviously unauthorized by our neighborhood). The teens began fighting with each other and pushing their way into our private pool. Some were jumping our fence. The security guard was accosted when he tried to stop the beginnings of this mob scene."
• "The actions of Eric Casebolt are indefensible." Greg Conley, police chief, said. "I had 12 officers on the scene, and 11 of them performed according to their training."

Headlines demanding racial equality are frequent, but Benet Embry, a 43-year-old African American and eight-year resident of McKinney, said,

"Let me reiterate, the neighbors or the neighborhood did not call the police because this was an African-American party or whatever the situation is," he said. "This was not a racially motivated event -- at all. This whole thing is being blown completely out of proportion." I may or may not agree with everything that the police officer did, but I do believe he was trying to establish order."

#AllLivesMatter

Review: Mascaras

Pretty lashes top my makeup wishlist -- if I'm feeling a no-makeup day, I might just swipe a little mascara on to look more awake and ready for the day. I have short, straight lashes, so I've experimented with my fair share of mascaras to see which ones lengthen, curl and make my lashes as visible as possible. Here is a review on some mascaras I've tried and some I've worn on the daily.

*starred ones are my go-to's and favorites! I would definitely recommend these (and buy them again!)

Set 1: Drugstore

(from left to right)

1. Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Black Drama*
2. Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Flared
3. Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express
4. Maybelline Great Lash
5. CoverGirl LashBlast Volume/Fusion
6. Maybelline Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara

1 & 2:  These two are pretty similar, but I found enough of a difference in more dramatically flared brush. It really eased application, allowing the coat to go on darker and stay longer. The formula was a little wetter than what works best for my lashes, but drier than other drugstore mascaras. It does a good job of thickening lashes.

3:  The formula wetness is pretty similar to The Falsies, but I wasn't crazy about the bigger, wider brush. The special part of this mascara is that the brush is flexible, but I didn't find that feature helpful.

4:  I tried a few variations of this mascara because it was so popular and highly rated among magazines, so my expectations were a little too high. The brush and formula were both okay -- and the mascara itself? Also okay.

5:  It's hard to tell whether the formula runs out really quickly or if it's just dry. The bristles on the brush are much wider than other mascaras (so it went on a little lighter) which was nice to separate lashes -- but only after using a different mascara before it. 

6:  When this came out, I was pretty excited about the vibrating brush. I think the concept is still really cool, but it doesn't work wonders for me. The bristles on the brush are very wide, like LashBlash/Fusion, and they're also shorter and harder than most brushes.  This product has since been discontinued. 

Set 2: Department Store

(from left to right)

1. Clinique Lash Doubling
2. Benefit They're Real!
3. Laura Geller GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing* 
4. Ulta Amped Lashes
5. Mally Volumizing*
6. Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof*
7. bareMinerals Lash Domination Volumizing* 

1:  Overall, I found department store mascaras to have better, drier formulas. I like the formula for this one, but the brush makes it a little tricky to apply. 

2:  The short, hard bristles help separate lashes after mascara has already been applied (like LashBlast/Fusion). The formula was nice, but I wasn't as crazy about the brush. 

3:  I really like the brush and the formula for this one! It's on the drier side, goes on smoothly and lengthens lashes. I wish the brush were a little shorter, but the bristles are stiff enough to make for easy application. Because it dries quickly, I like to put one or two coats on.

4:  I'm not a huge fan of harder, sparser bristles on brushes, but the thickness of the brush was nice. The formula didn't work well for me and didn't coat my lashes smoothly or lengthen/thicken very well. This one's on the cheaper side out of this section.

5:  I'm not sure if it's the swirly bristles or the formula, but this mascara coated my lashes well and was dry enough to lengthen them. Nothing to change! 

6:  After reading reviews from some of my favorite beauty bloggers and recommendations from friends, I was excited to try this super-waterproof mascara. It holds true to the waterproof and really helps to hold curl and lengthen. (tip! waterproof mascaras stay forever, hold curl better and won't smudge if you apply to your lower lashes) I really liked this one! 

7:  Along with Cannonball, my other current favorite. I hadn't heard of this one until I received it as a gift from a friend, but I love this one! It's only a little bit wetter than some of the other department store mascaras, but it applies and dries really smoothly and lengthens and thickens. It's not waterproof, but it holds curl so well it seems to curl lashes. The brush is unique but helps application. 

My favorites in order: 

1. bareMinerals Lash Domination Volumizing

2. Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof

3. Mally Volumizing

4. Laura Geller GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing

5. Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Black Drama

What's your take? Did I miss your favorites? 

Photography by Lauren Pak

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