Britain's Got Talent in trouble for exploiting children again

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2316452/Britains-Got-Talent-2013-Viewers-shocked-Asanda-Jeziles-sexualised-performance-Rihannas-Diamonds.html

An article discussing whether Britain's Got Talent was wrong to allow an 11 year old to perform a sexualised song on Saturday night.  Were they taking advantage of her for entertainment purposes?  Should there be rules in place to regulate how children appear on television?  Are Reality TV shows exploiting contestants?

Britain's Got Talent - contestants fake?

Controversy hits this week as Britain's Got Talent is accused of creating fake / different back stories for contestants to make them more popular..

For example

A pair of brothers are accused of making themselves out to be "just sandwich shop workers" to increase their likability and appeal to a working class audience.  In reality they only work in their family's shop when they are not touring the world singing on a cruise ship having already released an album that has been mentioned on TV (see article below)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2313739/Panini-Pavarottis-How-humble-singing-sandwich-makers-Britains-Got-Talent-actually-pair-slick-cruise-ship-crooners.html


Another contestant was seen shaking with nerves and saying she suffers from stage fright which makes her more likeable as the audience feels sorry for her.  She has been accused of faking this because she was also seen appearing on the BBC show The Voice showing no signs of these nerves, as well as appearing confident and sexy on her You Tube channel (see article below)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2311837/Britains-Got-Talent-contestant-Alice-Fredenham-accused-faking-stage-fright-shes-seen-looking-confident-bubbly-The-Voice.html

Might be good examples of how "reality tv" cannot be relied upon to be "real" anymore.  How tv institutions are creating these Propp style characters (the hero, the underdog, the victim etc) to improve ratings because their real life personalities are not enough to raise ratings.

Are Channel 5 ethically right to feature a celebrity in Big Brother who has mental health issues and who failed psychological tests for an earlier series?

Channel 5 are being criticised this week for continuing to feature Paula Hamilton, an ex model, in this year's Celebrity Big Brother.  She has previously suffered from mental health issues, had admitted she has a serious alcohol problem which she has decided not to worry about and continues drinking, and just last month, crashed her car whilst massively over the limit, losing several of her teeth in the crash.  In episodes of Big Brother so far she has been seen talking to herself, ranting about how the show is fixed, and how she is being victimised by the producers.  Many have speculated that she may be on the verge of a full breakdown.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2259098/Celebrity-Big-Brother-2013-Paula-Hamilton-CBB-house.html

Voting on Reality TV Shows

So we all know that most reality TV shows have some sort of voting system in place.. We vote people in, we vote people out, we vote for people we hate to do trials, we vote for people we like to get treats..  Several years ago, shows such as as X Factor and Britain's Got Talent got into trouble for charging people too much for voting, and even charging them if they rung after the cut off time.

This week the BBC were complained about on Twitter as people couldn't get through to the voting line to vote for their favourite Sports Person Of the Year.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2249368/Jammed-phone-lines-leave-thousands-angry-viewers-unable-vote-Sports-Personality-Year.html

Remember that most institutons are commercial.  They are designed to make money.  How many programmes can you think of that ask you to ring or text in for some reason?

Does the media rely on shock tactics and ethically wrong content?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2249065/JANET-STREET-PORTER-After-Kate-Middleton-hoax-Jacintha-Saldanhas-death-columnist-muses-cruel-prank-calls.html


An interesting article here about the morally and ethically wrong things that media companies have done in the name of "entertainment".  Are reality TV shows and indeed other media products relying too much now on humiliating people?  Should they think about the consequences of their actions?