Few people would dispute that the content of TV schedules has changed remarkably over the past few years. Following the ratings success of shows like Big Brother and Wife Swap, ‘Reality TV’ reigns supreme. In audition-based shows such as X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing, meanwhile, celebrities and common folk alike compete to impress judges and the viewing public at home, who increasingly dictate the content and direction of their programmes – a trend hailed as the ‘democratisation’ of television. In the past year alone Any Dream Will Do, How to Solve a Problem Like Maria? and Dancing on Ice have all achieved high ratings using this format. In doing so they have taken over Saturday night TV, traditionally the bastion of game shows and comedy. But these programmes have also been mired in controversy about ethical standards, with accusations of widespread faking and rigged votes.
The effect of this apparent revolution has been felt in news and current affairs too. As a result, the very nature of news coverage is changing. Five News has been praised for its ‘Your News’ sections, where viewers use mobile phones to make mini-documentaries about daily life. All the main news stations have email addresses and phone numbers for viewers to ‘get in touch’ with their views, and substantial portions of programmes like BBC Breakfast involve presenters reading out the comments of viewers at home.
If the emphasis in news moves towards accessibility, will the quality of output be diminished? Is the new focus on interaction with the viewing public a sign that news and current affairs is collapsing into an imitation of other in-vogue genres of television? If so, what happens to the traditional goal of objectivity?
Peter Horrocks head of television news, BBC | |
Raymond Snoddy freelance journalist; former presenter, BBC NewsWatch; author, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly | |
Guy Rundle European editor of the Australian Arena magazine | |
Iain Dale director of live programming, 18 Doughty Street; political blogger and former Conservative parliamentary candidate | |
Chair: | |
Amol Rajan columnist, Independent titles; advisor to Evgeny Lebedev; author, Twirlymen: the unlikely history of cricket’s greatest spin doctors |
Amol Rajan columnist, Independent titles; advisor to Evgeny Lebedev; author, Twirlymen: the unlikely history of cricket’s greatest spin doctors | |
Claire Fox director, Academy of Ideas; panellist, BBC Radio 4's Moral Maze; author, I Find That Offensive | |
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