Ethics Committee for Reality TV

Released on 19/10/2007

The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) charity today added its voice to calls for an independent ethics committee to be set up to monitor so-called 'reality' TV shows that involve babies and children.

The NCT, along with other leading children and parenting organisations, is concerned about the increase in the number of programmes that involve children and parents as a form of entertainment.

The organisations are calling for an ethics committee to monitor and pre-approve the content and format of any programme that involves minors.

Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive, NCT charity said;

"We want an ethics committee established as a matter of urgency to investigate these programmes.

"To ensure that we can safeguard children, we need tighter controls on the broadcasting of factual reality TV shows which feature babies or children who cannot give consent.

"OFCOM, Broadcasting Standards Council, BBC Trust and other related bodies need to look at implementing broadcasting codes so that vulnerable children and their parents cannot be exploited for the sake of reality TV."

Contact

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