Democracy can't function without the free flow of information. The First Amendment prohibits the government from making any law that abridges this freedom. However, freedom of the press can conflict with the individual's right to privacy. Civilized society requires that we each respect one another's privacy to some level. The courts have the difficult job of deciding cases that arise when freedom of the press and the right to privacy come into conflict.
Decisions depend on what the victim was doing and who the victim is.
Who the individual is becomes important if the person seeks public attention. Stories abound about famous people being pursued by media hounds who are bent on scooping the latest celebrity news. Perhaps the most famous, and tragic, such story is about the death of Lady Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, who was killed in an automobile accident while fleeing reporters. Whoever works hard to become famous, such as a politician or movie star, voluntarily gives up some expectation of privacy. Ordinary people have a greater expectation of privacy because they have not sought to draw the public's attention to themselves.