This week, the Chartered Institute of Journalists (in the UK) warned media organisations against encouraging people to put themselves or others at risk whilst taking photos on their camerphones:
“Since the July bombs in London it has become common practice for the BBC and other media organisations to use amateur photographs and video footage, and several news organisations have openly advertised to encourage non-professionals to cover such incidents.
Most recently, there have been reports that extra police had to be despatched to Liverpool Street station to deal with more than 30 members of the public who had congregated to take photographs of a police incident, mostly with their mobile phones.
“It won’t be long before the police begin to widen their cordons around incidents in an efforts to keep at bay phone-wielding mobs”, said Robin Morgan, chairman of the Institute’s Professional Practices Board.”
[BBC News Online’s coverage of this story – thanks Smartmobs]