When Wallpaper Strikes Back

Using pictures of people in this way is a form of wallpaper video. But it's worst than other forms of wallpaper because instead of using generic pictures to illustrate a story, we're using specific pictures. There's no such thing as a "generic" person. Every face has attached to it a real person with a real name and a real address and real rights, who's real likely to hire a real good lawyer to hit you real hard with a real ugly lawsuit. If there's a recognizable face in your video, then that video is specific, not generic-- and some might construe your story to be about that individual. So if you're using a "crowd shot" to illustrate a story about something negative or embarrassing such as STDs, and Ethel Icetea recognizes herself in your video, she isn't going to be happy. If she gets a call from her neighbors kidding her about it, she's going to be less happy. You might then get a call from the law firm of Ketchum and Cheatham that will negatively affect your happiness.

Broadcast News Handbook, Third Edition
Television News Story Forms--The VO

C. A. Tuggle and Forrest Carr