Monday, 12th January 2009 - 20:24CET
Children's Commissioner slams candid camera programme
The Commissioner for Children has strongly criticised a candid camera programme involving children, broadcast on Family TV on January 4.
Children were invited to the studio supposedly for a rehearsal and to sing a song.
"Instead, these children found themselves insulted, mocked, and pushed around for the purposes of the prank while at the same time being filmed. The crew who were present in the studio made numerous (and successful) efforts to provoke the children to tears and anger, all in the name of entertainment," the Commissioner said.
"This two-hour long programme included name-calling, yelling =at the children, and a staged fight aimed at drawing a reaction from the shocked children who were present. One young girl was even reduced to uncontrollable tears, whilst others remained shocked and unsure of what was happening.
"It is absolutely disgraceful to witness such deterioration in the quality of TV programmes. Whilst children are capable of taking a joke, the content of this programme was tantamount to bullying. This is appalling not only in itself, but in the fact that the management of this station saw it fit to classify this as entertainment. Using children as the butt of humour in this way is deplorable and humiliating and should be unacceptable in a society which claims to love and respect its children."
The Commissioner said she was urging audiences to show their disapproval by boycotting such programmes. She also urged broadcasting stations to invest in quality programmes.
RSS
Comments
as for the parents, well I think social services should get involved. NO child deserves to be bullied especially by their parents. Family TV should be ashamed of themselves, there is no excuse that justifies this sort of behavior. I hope the Broadcasting authority takes firm action against them.
I'm surprised that you justify the programme by saying the parents were there and even in some cases encouraged the teasing ... was a pyschological assessment of each child made prior to the actual show to actually prove that they would be able to take this (what you would call 'form of entertainment', and what anyone in the reasonable world would call 'abuse') prior to the actual exercise? I haven't seen the programme and don't intend to. This isn't the 1800s where anything you did to kids was considered 'character building' with the kids left to deal with the backlash thereafter.
Kids have rights, which rights cannot be infringed (1) in the name of entertainment; and (2) notwithstanding the consent and/or participation of the parents ...
In any other country anyone who was remotely connected with this poor excuse for a TV programme would be suspended and fined at the very minimum, or more appropriately fired and prosecuted.
We wait with bated breath.
The consent of the parents does not justify your programme's actions; it simply disgraces their parents.
Which part of "public relations" don't you get?
However, I think many of us would agree that what happened is just the tip of the iceberg. It is symptomatic of the revolting, sub-standard, amateurish and shoddy fare that is being thrown at us by local so-called TV stations and pseud-presenters whose only gift is their inability to be ashamed of themselves.
When its not rubbish soap-operas, its tele-shopping, when its not tele-shopping its tele-cooking, tele bla bla bla and so on and so forth!!
As one of my fellow-bloggers put it, "Thank God we have our awards at the end of each year."
What kind of parents are these? What kind of families?
I think the police/social services authorities should step in and investigate. These children could be at risk.
This makes matters even worse!!! It is amazing how we are still far from being aware of the needs of the children. Shame!
Although some might think that it is harmless fun, BUT anyone who thinks that making children cry under any circumstances will make viewers laugh, they should really think again
I am surprised that the relevant authorities allow this material to be broadcast at all!
Even grown ups are sometimes not capable to handle such jokes.
if the parents were with you in the studio, shame on them as well. You never have the right to insult or tease anyone, let alone children. Their minds doesn't work like grown up's, they surley went trough a trauma. Even Paprati, not all the jokes are really jokes!!!!! If you're out of ideas just do NOTHING.
And what about the rubbish shown during last Friday's Xarabank!
To discuss the delicate issue of prostitution in Malta requires a professional,sensitive and intelligent approach. With all due respect, the panel chosen were a farce. Peppi's telling us that he had to wait till the stroke of 9pm to start the "discussion" because of children was an even bigger farce!
Can somebody please tell me what exactly was achieved through the programme apart from sensationalism of the lowest quality?
What did we learn? That a father took his 14 year old son to a Russian prostitute-to break him! That groups of Maltese couples visit her! That business men visit her during their breaks and then go back to their wives! Did we need Peppi to tell us this? Is this quality material for a National Station?
Besides the police should institute criminal proceedings even if the "producers" manage to agree on an out of court settlement with the parents as to what compensation should be due to the victims. This programme was broadcast and great social harm has been done.
i watched the program since i know some of those who were the victims and was totally ashamed at the people making fun of some 7/8 year olds without them even underwtainding whats happening.
we try to copy american and italian programs.. yeah its cool, but come on, LETS BE ORIGINAL.
i agree with the commissioner. i fully agree.
Children are very sensible and they already go through a lot of pressure, unfortunately sometimes even from their parents, in connection with similar ‘talent’ opportunities on TV, song festivals ecc. Although indirectly this could have been a form of publicity for the young singers, it does not make any sense if the same Broadcasting Authority who stopped Tele Tubi (a TV programme that used to be aired on One TV) for example, does not take any action on such a matter. As a Nation we are good in protesting against a Circus who uses animals for the sake of entertaining but then we simply urging the audiences to show their disapproval by boycotting the viewing of programmes using kids for the same purpose.
It was disturbing to viewers as well, since it was not an entertaining due to the way the candid was carried out.
It would be interesting to know if this candid was carried out with the consent of the children's parents.
The above comments include Paprati.
I urge victims to sue if they are filmed irrationally.
Actually, the commission just gave the programme more promotion.
Michael Seychell
Pieta.
Well done.