1. Are there some stories that are just too
sensitive for soap operas to cover?
Discuss in relation to specific examples
from television.
By Michael Bolter, Sam Heron, Adam Parkinson, Pati Marshall and Kieran
Hanks - McComas
2.
3. • 'Hayley Cropper's Coronation Street suicide shows how soaps can
influence the national debate'
• "helpline episodes"
• ‘She is the highest-profile character to be written out in this way, and
that the subject of chosen or assisted dying is now a more inflamed
debate'
• 'Euthanasia is also unusual as a dramatic narrative in that there are
two distinct and vociferous public positions on the subject'
• 'The contention over the inclusion in soaps of these medical or
criminal issues is that they are being employed as a publicity or
ratings tactic, or that they may traumatise younger or more sensitive
audience members and/or cause imitative behaviour.’
4.
5.
6. • EastEnders complaints over controversial baby swap storyline reach
6,000 as Samantha Womack quits
• broadcasting standards body Ofcom have also received 374 viewer
complaints about the storyline to date
• thousands of viewers complained about the plot, which many
deemed 'exploitative', 'unrealistic' and 'hurtful' while others felt
programme-makers were being sensationalist to drum up ratings
rather than genuinely raise awareness of cot death.
• 'We also provided action line numbers at the end of the show.'
• viewing figures have actually gone up, increasing from 10.4million on
Monday night to 11.1million on Wednesday
