Are ther some stories that are just too sensitive for soap operas to cover? Manipulating Media - University of Winchester Project Manager - Corey Shayers Researcher - Lily Hyde Content Creation - Luis Davey

1. {{
Are there some stories that are justAre there some stories that are just
too sensitive for soap operas totoo sensitive for soap operas to
cover?cover?
In relation to examples taken from
the television and radio.

2. • Soap operas are needed to connect withSoap operas are needed to connect with
the audience in a way that makes thethe audience in a way that makes the
audience fully believe that the soap operaaudience fully believe that the soap opera
is real life.is real life.
• Soap operas have to connect with theSoap operas have to connect with the
audience in a way in which the channel isaudience in a way in which the channel is
able to sustain a loyal audience.able to sustain a loyal audience.
• The Soap Opera is at the heart of popularThe Soap Opera is at the heart of popular
culture.culture.
• ““Soap Operas have undertaken a realisticSoap Operas have undertaken a realistic
function in their representation of Britishfunction in their representation of British
Society”Society”
Soap OperasSoap Operas

3. • Soaps should be able to allow theSoaps should be able to allow the
audience to escape from their ownaudience to escape from their own
lives and and immerse themselveslives and and immerse themselves
in the characters lives.in the characters lives.
• Soaps have proven to be soSoaps have proven to be so
successful due to the stories andsuccessful due to the stories and
characters being so relatable to thecharacters being so relatable to the
target audience.target audience.
• This can be seen as why someThis can be seen as why some
subjects are too sensitive for Soapsubjects are too sensitive for Soap
operas…operas…
Soap OperasSoap Operas

4. • Danielle was introduced as aDanielle was introduced as a
young girl whose parents had justyoung girl whose parents had just
died and she was looking for adied and she was looking for a
new start.new start.
• In fact she was Ronnie’sIn fact she was Ronnie’s
presumed dead daughter.presumed dead daughter.
• When Ronnie found out that sheWhen Ronnie found out that she
was her daughter Danielle waswas her daughter Danielle was
killed.killed.
• This story received complaints asThis story received complaints as
the audience liked Ronnie’sthe audience liked Ronnie’s
character.character.
Eastenders – Danielle DeathEastenders – Danielle Death
storyline 2008/09storyline 2008/09

5. Eastenders- Cot Death/Baby StealingEastenders- Cot Death/Baby Stealing
Storyline 2011Storyline 2011
The controversial storyline sees
Ronnie finding her baby James
dead from Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome.
She is then seen swapping her
dead child for the alive son of Kat
Moon
• Received over 8000 complaints to OFCOM. Most complained about
Soap Storyline just ahead of the storyline of Danielle Jones’ death
which received 7000 complaints.
• Audience called the storyline “sick”, “disturbing” and “filmed in a
tasteless way”.

6. Presenter AnnePresenter Anne
Diamond alsoDiamond also
complained about thecomplained about the
storyline, she felt thatstoryline, she felt that
the storyline was notthe storyline was not
“a good way at“a good way at
informing the publicinforming the public
about a serious issueabout a serious issue
that is Cot Death”.that is Cot Death”.
Anne DiamondAnne Diamond
suffered the loss of hersuffered the loss of her
child to Cot Death inchild to Cot Death in
1991.1991.
Eastenders- Cot Death/Baby StealingEastenders- Cot Death/Baby Stealing
Storyline 2011Storyline 2011

7. Rape on Coronation StreetRape on Coronation Street
Coronation Street was criticised by a TV regulator for
failing to offer a viewer helpline after the traumatic
rape of Toyah Battersby.
Ten viewers complained to the Independent Television
Commission that the only help offered after the show
was on the Granada website.
This is the shocking scene which
viewers of Coronation Street
will see after barmaid Toyah
Battersby is raped.
The images are the most
harrowing shown in the 40-year
history of the soap opera.

8. Rape on Coronation StreetRape on Coronation Street
The storyline is reported to have caused controversy
on the set with many former stars believing it is too
distressing to show and is not in line with the soap's
tradition.
Georgia Taylor, (Toyah) defended the decision to
include the rape and said it could help girls facing the
same horror in their lives to speak out and seek help.
'There are many women out there who have been
raped or sexually assaulted and we owe it to them to
make sure that the story-line is handled sensitively
and accurately”

9. Some controversy due to the fact that there wereSome controversy due to the fact that there were
multiple similarities to the Clyde deaths inmultiple similarities to the Clyde deaths in
which 2 teenage girls made a suicide pact bywhich 2 teenage girls made a suicide pact by
jumping into the river which is what thejumping into the river which is what the
Hollyoaks writers had planned on creating theHollyoaks writers had planned on creating the
story around.story around.
Broadcast on Hollyoaks, to highlightBroadcast on Hollyoaks, to highlight
Teen suicide and schizophrenia.Teen suicide and schizophrenia.

10. The story is about theThe story is about the
character Newt who wascharacter Newt who was
attempting to end his lifeattempting to end his life
with his "friend" Rae whowith his "friend" Rae who
infact is a figment of hisinfact is a figment of his
imagination. The writersimagination. The writers
went ahead in producingwent ahead in producing
the episode even thoughthe episode even though
there was multiplethere was multiple
disputes due to respect thedisputes due to respect the
mourning of the teenagemourning of the teenage
girls family. However theygirls family. However they
did show the storyline,did show the storyline,
and it raised awarenessand it raised awareness
and support forand support for
Schizophrenia.Schizophrenia.

11. Soap operas cover these stories so that they can inform
their audiences about issues that are relevant at the time.
However some of the stories covered get brushed aside
so the show can continue with a storyline. This then gives
the audience a reason to complain. As soaps differ in
their target audience the stories they cover change and
the way they cover them also changes. We believe that
there are some stories that could be deemed too
sensitive, but it all depends on whether the issue is
relevant at the time of broadcast.
ConclusionConclusion

12.  http://http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1219300/Channel-
4-broadcast-Hollyoaks-suicide-pact-storyline-despite-similarities-
Clyde-teens-deaths.html
 http://http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a3238
39/emmerdale-jackson-plot-complaints-assessed-by-ofcom.html
 http://apps.facebook.com/theguardian/society/2009/feb/09/chilhttp://apps.facebook.com/theguardian/society/2009/feb/09/chil
dline-sexual-abuse?dline-sexual-abuse?
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MZooPkXee4J3Qjl0rqkaZkT4XOez0KpjvHqaXasU5ivavU0r7NI9r2MZooPkXee4J3Qjl0rqkaZkT4XOez0KpjvHqaXasU5ivavU0r7NI9r2
dOI5Z06PRNiV2HX1txzlOrDvxiuEVL3ZgN6D-dOI5Z06PRNiV2HX1txzlOrDvxiuEVL3ZgN6D-
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BibliographyBibliography