UK’s Channel 4 hit by Ofcom decision

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Channel 4’s ‘Boys & Girls Alone’ reality factual show has fallen badly foul of UK regulator Ofcom. The four-part documentary series showed ten boys and ten girls, aged between eight and twelve years old, as they, according to the first programme, experienced life without adults for two weeks. Ofcom received 180 formal complaints, citing specific protests about how the show treated the children involved, especially the emotional welfare of the youngsters.

Ofcom said a number of complainants questioned the aims of the series and what it set out to achieve. Some claimed the series was falsely presented as an educational “social experiment”. Complainants also said that the series did not reveal any observations that viewers did not already know. Others raised concerns that the series was not in the best interests of the children involved.

“A number of complaints also related to the ethical issues of involving young children in this type of reality/documentary programme. Some complainants claimed that the series was exploitative of the children involved and that it used them for the purposes of entertainment. In particular, complainants raised concerns about whether there was justification for broadcasting the bullying and distress of some of the children.”

“In reaching a decision in this case, Ofcom was required to balance the right to freedom of expression of Channel 4 and its audience against the need to ensure appropriate restrictions on that right in order to comply with the standards set out in the Code. It is essential in Ofcom’s opinion for Channel 4 and other broadcasters to continue to enjoy the editorial freedom to make factual programmes about issues involving children and for children to be able to take part. Ofcom’s viewer research in this area has demonstrated how much children and their parents value children’s right to have a voice, and the programmes reflect this. It must be balanced in turn however by the requirement to comply with the Code and in particular the need to ensure appropriate protection for the children participating.”

No penalty was applied against Channel 4.

The full Ofcom 38-page background and ruling can be seen at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/obb144/Issue144.pdf


Source:RapidTVNews