Ask Charity Weblog

Among the maelstrom of coverage about fake competition winners and how the queen didn't walk out of a photo shoot, a story about the alleged irresponsibility of documentary-makers got lost on the legal pages of the Guardian. But it is an interesting story about woman with a very low IQ who was deemed by the BBC to have given informed consent to take part in a programme about adoption. The 18 year old woman was at risk of having her child taken into care and this did in fact happen. The whole process was filmed but the Official Solicitor intervened and took the BBC to court. A high court judge stopped the programme from being aired - he said the woman could not give informed consent and that the airing of the programme could only cause her harm. On the basis of the article I've read, I have to agree with him. The situation undoubtedly made for interesting, gripping television and illustrated a new form of adoption - concurrent planning. But I can see that airing the programme could have traumatised an already vulnerable adult. It was definitiely not worth taking the risk http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2132442,00.html

Posted by Charity at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last week Five News announced that it was going into partnership with Friction TV http://www.friction.tv/, an online service where people can upload videos of themselves talking about local or global issues. At the moment there are videos on "the N word is racist", "we need global warming" and "there are no real girl gangs". The best videos on Friction TV are being selected by Five News for a new "your views" slot on its main news bulletins. This is a fantastic opportuniity for charities to get their viewpoint on national TV. Get supporters/volunteers/clients to do a video which conveys a campaigning message (as real and unscripted as possible) and you have as good a chance as anyone else on the site to have that video broadcast...

Posted by Charity at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

In interviews to promote his book Alastair Campbell accuses the media of taking an increasingly cynical and destructive role that undermines public trust in institutions, not just politics. Many outside the media, and some in (http://media.guardian.co.uk/presspublishing/story/0,,2122095,00.html) agree with him. I know many in charities feel the media is hostile to and damaging to charities. But an interesting aspect of news is the way charities provide the media with ammunition to attack politicians and institutions. Campaigners attack government and other official policy (eg health charities often criticise the decisions of NICE) and their negative comments fuel media criticism. It's just a question, but I sometimes wonder whether charities, in colluding with a feral media, are also creating a worse media climate for themselves.

Posted by Charity at 01:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Barnardo's has a reputation for shocking advertising. They did "cockroach baby" http://www.barnardos.org.uk/2003cockroach.jpg a while back. Now their latest campaign is being investigated by the ASA for the use of the term f*** in an ad featuring a boy who tells his social worker to f*** off. That the ASA is investigating is slightly surprising given that they have received only two complaints and overall the campaign is not visually shocking. Have a look at the ads here http://www.barnardos.org.uk/news_and_events/media_centre/press_releases.htm?ref=30042

Posted by Charity at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)