A death calls into question the ethics of television’s human bear-pits
THE FIRST episode of “Expedition Robinson”, a Swedish television programme, aired in September 1997. A precursor to “Survivor”, a hit American show, it was one of the first examples of so-called reality television, and the first exhibit in a debate on the effects of such shows on those who take part. Two months before the series aired, one of its cast, Sinisa Savija, had committed suicide after becoming the first person to be voted off.
Two decades later, attitudes have changed. On May 15th, in the middle of “mental-health awareness week”, ITV announced that it would cancel “The Jeremy Kyle Show”, a popular daytime programme that featured real people arguing furiously about infidelity, alcoholism, drug use and the like. A week earlier a participant, Steven Dymond, had been found dead after failing a lie-detector test on camera.Worry about the welfare of reality-TV subjects is not new.
Yet it is the Jeremy Kyle incident that looks most like becoming, as one MP put it, a “watershed moment”. One reason may be the programme’s vulnerable subjects. The families berating each other in episodes such as “My transgender love rival is trying to steal my husband!” are softer targets than the young wannabes who go on “Love Island” hoping for a career as a minor celebrity. Ten years of austerity have made poor-bashing less popular than elite-bashing.
But there may be a more optimistic reason. There has been a “sea change” in attitudes to mental health, says Paul Farmer, the boss of Mind, a charity. Public figures, from MPs to royals, have spoken openly about their mental battles. “What starts off invisible, moves towards taboo, becomes acceptable. We’ve seen it in cancer, race, sexuality, disability and we see it in mental health,” says David Crepaz-Keay of the Mental Health Foundation, another charity.
The number of people saying they were willing to live with someone who suffered from mental illness increased from 57% in 2009 to 72% in 2016. Those willing to work with them rose from 69% to 80%. And the media’s framing of mental-health issues has improved, shifting to being mainly non-stigmatising in 2016, according to Time to Change, a charity. The end of “The Jeremy Kyle Show” will presumably do no harm to this balance.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
UK's ITV cancels 'Jeremy Kyle Show' after death of a participantBritish broadcaster ITV has canceled 'The Jeremy Kyle Show', a tabloid...
Baca lebih lajut »
U.K. talk show canceled after man outed as cheating on girlfriend diesThe death of Steven Dymond, who had taken part in a lie detector test in an episode, has raised questions about broadcasters’ responsibility.
Baca lebih lajut »
Florida man who allegedly slapped his girlfriend with a cheeseburger and kicked her downstairs charged with batteryKyle Jamison Jones, 30, was taken to the Martin County Jail after the incident.
Baca lebih lajut »
Tabloid talk show canceled after death of guest who failed a lie-detector test over fidelity“The Jeremy Kyle Show” — the U.K.'s answer to Jerry Springer's divisive TV show — was permanently canceled by ITV.
Baca lebih lajut »
Blaming government 'failure', Britain's Labour launches European vote campaignBritish Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will urge both pro-EU voters and Brexit supp...
Baca lebih lajut »
Blaming government 'failure', Britain's Labour launches European vote campaignBritish Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will urge both pro-EU voters and Brexit supp...
Baca lebih lajut »
What happens when an all-star trio gets interrupted by the couple arguing in the front rowReview: Violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Steven Isserlis and pianist Jeremy Denk followed up their sold-out Lincoln Center engagement with a concert at the Soraya.
Baca lebih lajut »
UK Foreign Minister Hunt warns U.S.-Iran conflict riskBritain's Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt warned on Monday of the risks of an ...
Baca lebih lajut »
Theresa May to hold new Brexit deal vote following talks with Jeremy CorbynThe prime minister says she will hold a vote in June on key legislation to take Britain out of the EU.
Baca lebih lajut »
Climber's camera captures horrifying 60-foot free-fall down rock face in FlatironsA man who survived a harrowing ordeal, falling 60 feet while climbing the Flatirons in Boulder, Colorado, has finally left rehabilitation.
Baca lebih lajut »