Dan Gillmor on Grassroots Journalism: Media Cluelessness at Wal-Mart So add Wal-Mart to the list of places that don’t want you taking photographs. Wal-Mart’s ridiculous policies include:
Wal-Mart’s policy that all photos taken on its property must be approved in advance includes breaking news coverage, company spokeswoman Christi Gallagher said.
The company requires the media – or anyone else – to get approval before taking pictures in Wal-Mart stores or on Wal-Mart property, she said.
Asked if journalists photographing unexpected news, such as a fire, need the same permission, Gallagher said they do.
After hours, a journalist should call the company’s 24-hour corporate hotline before taking pictures, she said.
As a photographer I’ve personally had similar run ins with companies when trying to take photographs at Grand Central Station with my tripod in New York, Starbucks and PF Changs. I think that these anti photography policies are counter productive to companies and surely will keep their policy in mind the next time I have an opportunity not to buy something at Wal-Mart.
See Directory of Bay Area Photo Policies and Clampdown on Photographer’s Rights. Really Horrible News Out of Florida.