# Use of Broadcast Consent Forms

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-broadcast-consent-forms/250985>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 18, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-broadcast-consent-forms/250985 "2004-06-18T04:01:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-broadcast-consent-forms/250985/1 "2004-06-18T04:01:35Z")

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I am looking for clarification on media and broadcast consent forms.

I am vaguely aware of having to sign a media release form to allow someone to use my image on tv.

But what I’m unsure of is whether or not the news-media has to follow the same procedures.

Under what circumstances are these forms required and when are they waived?

In particular I can think of two cases that confuse me: 1.) When the news pans over a crowd to show how busy the beach was that day. 2.) When a criminal is arrested by police.

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**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-broadcast-consent-forms/250985/2 "2004-06-18T04:59:18Z")

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[This](http://www.rcfp.org/photoguide/intro.html) should be enough to get you started.

It looks like 1 is perfectly peachy without consent, but 2 is not. There are a lot more nuanced details at the above link.