How do you deal with a media crisis as a producer?

^faldo^

^faldo^

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There's a hugely popular satire/sketch show in Australia called The Chaser's War on Everything.

They made international news a few years ago when they snuck into some global conference being held in Sydney and stood next to George W Bush during a photo op while dressed up as Osama Bin Laden.

They are being hauled over the coals right now because of a black comedy sketch that aired a few days ago.

Some are calling the sketch low, others that it went too far, others (myself included) find it quite funny in a disturbing way.

Here's a link to what caused the uproar.

Some print media and opinion is calling for the show to be axed. It's been reported that they've been suspended from the government funded ABC for two weeks as the ABC reviews its editorial policy.

Say you're the producer of The Chaser's War on Everything. What would you do?
 
As a producer I'd do my best to fight it, but the producer might not have a choice. Especially since they are involved in government funding. Free speech is incredibly important, and doing so satirically is even more important, but all that goes out the window pretty quick when the target signs your checks.

That one's bad, but I've seen much worse and never thought they shouldn't show it at all. People just need to stop listening to themselves yell so much and get that it wasn't serious.
 
he can publicly apologize. maybe he could try to set up some sort of charity fund raising event for the make a wish foundation. other than that there isn't much he can do.

someone with the show should have realized that the public would likely be outraged about a sketch that makes fun of the dying wishes of terminally ill children. that's why it's always important to have at least one person in the room to have a good filter and feel for what the audience will accept.
 
It probably never should have been made. Everyone from the show should be fired, and the actors should have realized this BEFORE DOING IT. What makes me wonder is why the parents agreed to letting their children appear.
I mean I don't really care about things like this. Freedom of speech and expression and all. They could show it all day on TV if they want. It's just insensitive and sometimes NOT saying something is better than saying it.


but I'll fight for your right to say it. I guess!

I don't know. It's a tough one.
 
I've volunteered with the "Give Kids the World" foundation here in Orlando, which does some collaboration with "Make a Wish," so I might have a unique perspective on it. Sure, the video is offensive, and it's not very funny to me, and the producer probably should've exercised some voluntary judgment here. Still, I don't think censorship should even remotely apply to this case. It's not inciting violence, revealing military secrets, etc.

If I were the producer, I'd be doing a lot. First, a public apology, obviously. Whether you feel you were morally right or wrong to make this content is completely irrelevent if you want to save your arse. Second, make a PR arrangement with your local "Make a Wish" chapter to help them in some way while you still can. Volunteering at the minimum with monetary contributions not out of the question. Third, promise to be more "considerate" in the future, etc. Fourth, schmooze with whoever is reviewing your decisions.

I think this is a great example of freedom of speech at work. The producers were free to air this content, and the audience was free to react. Freedom of speech doesn't entail freedom from public response.

Still, it wasn't that bad. But I suppose a parent with a child that was suffering from terminal cancer might feel differently.
 
I guess I don't see what's so offensive.

As for what the producer should do, you know what they say in show business: There is no bad press.

They should immediately make a sketch about the government and put it on YouTube.
 
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I think where they went wrong is the angle they took that the kids are "going to die anyway". It wasn't in good taste. I personally wouldn't have let it go to air despite claims of free speech. However, if it was a web only venture, I would say do it. I didn't like it. Didn't find it funny. But for web - there is no real "line".

PS. I think it would have been different it was only for web.
 
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