Press- its illegal to print bad stuff in luxembourg... what about other countries?

[bad_barbarella]

Luxembourg is a very respectable country. Especially since the laws prohibit bad press. Discuss What would happen if any of these royals were to marry someone in a country that is like obsessed with gossip. For example poor Mary (now Crown Princess Mary). The Australian press didnt leave her alone. Discuss ways of coping with press and your thoughts on this family remaining so private if a member marries into a media massive country :)

Hope i made sense x

[BMC]

First of all, I don't admire this rule at all. In fact I think it is dead wrong.
As much as I despise the media, especially the gossip media, I think freedom of the press is extremely important.
As long as a story is true, and is verified as true, I see no good reason why the media can't make it public.
Royals are public figures and as such are subject to the scrutiny of the media.
Muzzling the media in an attempt to make people look better than they truly are always backfire. Just look at the British royals. For years they had absolute control over how they were portrayed by the media, who knew 90% of it was a lie. When the media finally exposed the truth about them, the backlash against the RF was enormous. It's always better to tell the truth.

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

I honestly think for Luxembourg, its right. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about free press. But the thing is, Luxembourg is a rich person's playground. I heard on tv that there is a huge festival/party about every three weeks. And basically, they said it was a party city. But who knows how exagerated this was, because the person saying this was in the country for National day, the biggest three days of the year there. And with the country being so small, I don't think it matters as far as international stuff goes.

[Mathilde1286]

I think the best you can do is to not shun the press. Think about it, as a public figure, you need the press and the press needs you. The press can either break you or make you. Furthermore, if you shun the press, that makes them want to know more about you, thus pestering increases and dangerous situations, too. Think of CP Maxima of the Netherlands. It's such a big deal for her to try to keep the press out of her hair, that they do more to capture her. The RFamily of Spain, on the other hand has a rather open, close and peaceful relationship with the press. If you respect the press, and treat them like the humans they are, there is no reason for negative situations. The more you run, the more they will try to get you...Friendliness is your best bet.

[ShksprNLov]

I agree Mathilde - the press can either break or make you. It is also an important freedom that I think every country should have. I do think there are some boundaries that should not be crossed (a lot of pregnancy rumors I find to be in bad taste) but overall, the royals should be reported on because they are important people in power. And I think that they should have at least a decent relationship with the press - they don't have to be buddies or anything but politeness is always key...and that way if they do mess up, maybe the backlash won't be so bad....
Also, is there anything in Luxembourg about free spech not about the royal family?

[msfroyste]

i believe that freedom of the press is probably one of the most important things in a society. along with providing a wide range of subjects, from breaking news, stuff that's actually vital, to the other side, gossip rags, comic strips, etc; nonetheless, it plays a vital role in "free and democratic societies". free press allows for more than one point of view on every single topic. it portrays the good, the bad, and the ugly. it's a "necessary evil" that has become essential in today's political and social climate as well. as for caring about what the media says, positive or negative, towards one, the only ppl that should care are the ppl actually runing a country- an elected body, which was put there by the ppl, a constitutional monarchy, which is there as long as the ppl want them to be, or everyday famous ppl- singers, actors, artists, writers, etc. everyone else should, imo, for themselves what is and isn't the truth, and base their actions from there. all that one will take is a little leg or finger work.

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

But the thing is that I don't get is why they are seemingly nice to the press when nothing is allowed to be said that is negative about them.

[lisamaria]

Originally Posted by gaggleofcrazypeople

But the thing is that I don't get is why they are seemingly nice to the press when nothing is allowed to be said that is negative about them.

My feeling exactly. The old wisdom of why all the secrecy if one has nothing to hide comes to mind too. I was looking at the pictures in the Hola! magazine, and came to think that this family is overly, exceedingly image conscious. With all those pictures of a Sound of Music-like perfect family happily strolling about, ready to bold out 'The hills are alive' at any moment, they are almost going for the overkill - ending up to look fake.

If such a rule (which I find undemocratic and, in principle, against the freedom of the thought and the press - a basic principle of any democracy) really exists, it perhaps has only one thing to speak for it. Luxembourg is a very small country, where everyone who is anyone knows each other. Reading about your neighbour's affairs (business or otherwise) on the papers would surely create "interesting" situations.

In a country the size of Luxembourg, it would be very, very easy for the royal family to kill any story brought up by the local media but I guess (hope) they don't have that kind of power over the foreign press. If, for example, the American Vanity Fair chose to go on and print a story about the Grand Duke, revealing that he is into whips and chains, any attempt by him to stop it would only cause more damage.

I live in Finland and in here we regularly are exposed on anything and everything about the Swedish royal family. They seem extremely eager to kill off any story written about them, and have a legal team ready to sue any paper writing anything - something for example the Windsors don't do. At all. Whatever the press writes, they rather gracefull just shake it off and carry on. I think that is a very admirable approach, and a very professional one too.

-Lisa

[msfroyste]

um gaggle, i think you just answered your own question. that's precisely why they're nice to them. i'm sure if enough press ppl wanted to print something negative about them, they would. they could sign a petition or something, i don't know how things like that work in luxembourg- getting a law changed or added, perhaps someone from luxembourg can fill us in. i think i'll stop here b/c i don't want to get into politics.

[suturegeisha]

I have my sincere doubts that there is an actual law stating that the press is not to print anything negative about the Grand Duke or the royal family. Can someone show me this- in the Constitution or something?
I hate to be a Doubting Thomas, but that just strikes me as a very odd law, particularly in Luxembourg.

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

Originally Posted by msfroyste

they could sign a petition or something, i don't know how things like that work in luxembourg- getting a law changed or added, perhaps someone from luxembourg can fill us in.

I think its a consitutional monarchy.

[msfroyste]

it is a constitutional monarchy, but nonetheless, i believe they have an elected representational body, not sure what it's called. if so, i'm pretty sure they can get freedom of the press put in the books, if it already isn't there.

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

Yeah, they have a Prime Minister and I forget what their legislative body is called.

[bad_barbarella]

Princess Mary was followed 24-7 by a danish detective and he went through her rubbish once a week... is this what a girl is getting her self into getting involved with a prince?

[suturegeisha]

Originally Posted by bad_barbarella

Princess Mary was followed 24-7 by a danish detective and he went through her rubbish once a week... is this what a girl is getting her self into getting involved with a prince?

'Fraid so. XD

[Queen Mary I]

Originally Posted by bad_barbarella

Luxembourg is a very respectable country. Especially since the laws prohibit bad press. Discuss What would happen if any of these royals were to marry someone in a country that is like obsessed with gossip. For example poor Mary (now Crown Princess Mary). The Australian press didnt leave her alone. Discuss ways of coping with press and your thoughts on this family remaining so private if a member marries into a media massive country :)

Hope i made sense x

Freedom of the press is one of the hallmarks of U.S. law so I cannot agree with a country that would supress it. It is dictatorial.

Edited to add however I do not believe the press has a right to harass anyone just because they are celebrities.

[msfroyste]

which is why there are wonderful things called lawsuits. celebrities should use them more to keep the press in line.

[Layla1971]

I think there may be an unspoken agreement that there isn't anything untrue printed about the Royal Family. That doesn't mean the media can't print anything bad, just that, out of loyalty or respect, they won't print anything untrue.

[lisamaria]

Originally Posted by bad_barbarella

Princess Mary was followed 24-7 by a danish detective and he went through her rubbish once a week... is this what a girl is getting her self into getting involved with a prince?

A newspaper here in Finland said about Letizia of Spain that her engagement to Felipe had top published right away after the first rumours of their affair started to circulate - only to stop the press from tearing her past into shreds. There is a certain, higher respect for a companion of the established sort, like a fiancée, but a mere girlfriend is a fair game for the press.

The other question is though, who wants to read all the stuff written about any celebrity? I think the world would be a much happier, more... oxygenous place without every last detail about Paris Hilton's sex life. But that's just me.

-Lisa :o

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

But if we like celebreties and royals enough, we'd want to know these interesting things about them that pscho stalker reporters find out.