"Fueling Violence and lacking Professional Standards" .. A report Monitors the Phenomenon of Prank TV Shows in Ramadan

STOCKHOLM - Skyline International has released a brief report that monitors the phenomenon of prank and hidden camera TV shows, which dominate Arab satellite channels during the Holy month of Ramadan amid suspicions of their content that often fuel violence as well as the absence of professional and ethical standards.

The Stockholm-based international organization states that the widespread promotion of prank and hidden-camera programs has come a part of the entertainment and marketing strategy to attract ads due to its high viewership.

Skyline adds that these programs raise controversy over their goals, values and commitments to professional standards in comparison to the high cost of their production.

Skyline warns that the most important characteristic of successful media activity, whatever its method, is credibility, objectivity, commitment to ethical and professional controls, and consideration of social responsibility.

Also, Skyline points out that 6 prank TV shows are competing in the current month of Ramadan 2020: Ramez Magnoun Rasmi (Ramez is officially crazy), Khali Balak Min Fefe (Beware of Fefe), Mahadesh Fahem Haga (No one understands a thing), El-Mahzrtia (the prankers), Prova (rehearsal ), and ,  Ana Wa Rajli (Me and My Man). Some of these include scenes of violence and torture, as well as insults and degradation of human dignity.

By extrapolating the content of these prank programs, Skyline notes that these shows are distinguished by the high cost of production, the absence of any valuable messages, the use of inappropriate terms such as, insults and the constant abuse and degradation  and of human dignity which violates article 5 of the UDHR, "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading  treatment or punishment".

In this regard, Skyline states that despite the high viewership of these TV shows, they are characterized by low credibility, the deception, and manipulation of participants, the lack of ethical and professional standards as well as social responsibility.

Accordingly, the international "Skyline" organization recommends broadcasting networks to establish a professional and ethical charter of honor for this kind of programs that would the suspension of these degrading practices

Skyline also stresses  the need to set criteria for choosing ideas to be addressed, based on professional and social responsibility. Also, it states that programs of violent and degrading content should be reconsidered and replaced by content that respects human dignity, and promotes constructive values in society.

Skyline calls for the removal or edition of  programs that advocate violence and address survival instincts, driven by profit, and without real messages, and to conduct controlled  studies on the risks and impacts of current hidden camera programs on the public which could be contributing and nurturing  violent behavior among individuals.

 

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