manufacturing outrage

Posted: Sun, 03 Jun

I fell for the hoax:

A Dutch reality television show in which a supposedly dying woman had to pick one of three contestants to whom she would donate a kidney was revealed as an elaborate hoax on Friday.

The producers did it to publicize the lack of kidney donors.

Producers apologized to viewers and said they hoped “outrage” over the show would turn into anger over the lack of organs for transplant.

The minister of education gave them a hearty endorsement:

Dutch Education Minister Ronald Plasterk hailed the show as a “fantastic stunt” and an intelligent way to draw attention to the shortage of donor organs.

I guess he believes in advocacy entertainment—which, like advocacy journalism, seems to be a coming trend. Ugh. I don’t. I like to be entertained or informed, not corraled or assaulted. But the education minister’s reaction supports my little theory.

It does go to show that … well … you know: Infotainment Rules.