The tabloid-style media coverage in Great Britain and Australia frightens me. They take the worst elements of TMZ, mix them with a little Jerry Springer, throw in a dash of self-righteous indignation, and add a syrupy pun or two. It's really quite fascinating.
The "breakfast market" is what they call morning radio and television shows. In the states, shows like Regis and Kelly or The Today Show usually cover light fare and have segments about Spanx or the all-celery diet or erotic pilates or orthopedic pantyhose or fencing. Across the pond and down under, though, the content can be surprisingly risqué.
The Australian radio station 2DayFM has a "breakfast crew" comprised of two people named Kyle and Jackie O. They have a segment in which people are hooked up to a lie detector test and asked questions on the air. It seems as though frequent victims of this treatment are teenage girls with nosey moms.
Recently, a 14-year-old girl was brought on the show by her mother so she could be asked questions about sex and drug use. The girl was a rape victim. The mother knew this. She had not told the radio crew. Here's a rundown of the segment (which can be heard here):
"Have you had sex?" the mother asked.
"I've already told you the story of this," the clearly uncomfortable child eventually responded.
"And don't smile about this because it's not funny.
"I was raped when I was twelve years old!"
After a prolonged silence, Kyle interjected but hardly helped the situation.
"Right … And is that the only experience you have had?" he said.
The mother then mentioned she only became aware of the incident a few months ago, despite stating earlier she wasn't completely sure if her daughter engaged in intercourse.
"And yet you still asked me the question," the girl continued.
After Kyle's blunder, Jackie O said they were going to abort the segment, saying that if they knew about the girl's past, they wouldn't have had her on the show. But a 14 year-old non-rape victim is fair game? 2DayFM faces reprimand from Australian Communications and Media Authority over the incident. Let's hope they suggest the station cease the practice of performing lie detector tests on its guests.
If my mother ever pulled something like this, I wouldn't be talking to her today. I hope this family can get some help and an already traumatized girl isn't further damaged by this incident.
