Question about Disclaimers

September 9, 2018 6:05 PM

Why does public radio always give disclaimers before stories it says has "disturbing" parts, but there is never a disclaimer for commercial or public radio newscasts?

As I remember, the NPR ethics guide asks and answers the question is the network treating its audience like children? It answers that it is exercising editorial judgment.

posted by CollectiveMind to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

On the contrary, I've also heard disclaimers on some commercial newscasts as well. Not always, but in the case of especially severe or troubling content they may something about "parents of small children" maybe wanting to get them to scoot.

Although, commercial radio may also not air content that they feel like they'd need to give a warning about. Maybe that's why you don't hear that as much on commercial radio, they deal with the controversial stuff by simply not airing it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:12 PM on September 9, 2018

Well...I'm a little confused by the question. But a couple things: first, they're known as "content warnings." Here's the NPR Ethics Handbook, which gets into the use of content warnings here and there. Finally, content warnings have long been used in for-profit media too.
posted by Miko at 7:16 PM on September 9, 2018

I think it’s because NPR is airing a longer story with more detail and sounds that could be disturbing, but the news is just reportage of facts. I have definitely heard warnings for longer investigative segments that have similar disturbing details, but if the story is literally like 90 seconds of “Someone did THING at PLACE to PERSON and investigation is ongoing” I think they’re likely to let it go.

I think there’s a difference in expectation when the audience is tuning in for entertainment vs. looking for reporting of events. The news report is edited, but the audience is treating it like it’s a list of everything that happened, and everyone knows bad things happen all the time so why warn? But longer shows like Radiolab or Unsolved Murders or whatever have an audience that is seeking a good time with a factual narrative, and so they warn for anything that is especially heinous, because the expectation is that the ahow is normally no more than mildly titillating.
posted by blnkfrnk at 7:31 PM on September 9, 2018

All stations during hours in which children might be listening/watching must abide by the obscenity and indecency rules. In 2002 and 2005, ABC made it through this gauntlet when they aired Saving Private Ryan sans bleeping. My guess is that NPR has elected to expand this by specifically warning listeners that there is content that may be objectionable even if there is no profanity, indecency, or obscenity.

The other possible rationale is that children may be listening along with their parents and the parents need a warning so they can turn it off before younger ears can hear. This is actually why I had to stop listening to NPR in the morning when getting ready for work - my son wanted to be in the bathroom with me and I was not prepared to explain to him all of the terribleness that was being reported on which he of course started asking about.
posted by tafetta, darling! at 8:24 PM on September 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

From a psychological perspective: General idea about triggering PTSD-type flashbacks or vicarious trauma is that the more detail provided, the more likely an affected person will be caused distress. As blnkfrnk differentiates, a superficial-level "Here are headlines about what happened" is less of a risk than "Let's dive into details about what happened." And trigger warnings allow adults to make informed decisions about whether it's healthy for everyone within hearing distance, including small children as well as trauma survivors, to keep listening.
posted by lazuli at 8:26 PM on September 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

Public radio has some semblance of ethics. Commercial radio, not so much.
posted by flabdablet at 5:39 AM on September 10, 2018 [4 favorites]

Commercial media is driven by fear and anger, and so will want to use that to get people to listen, click, etc.
posted by terrapin at 9:51 AM on September 10, 2018

The other possible rationale is that children may be listening along with their parents and the parents need a warning so they can turn it off before younger ears can hear.

Something like 70% of all radio listening is in the car. Which does make it more likely that the audience includes other, often young, listeners.
posted by Miko at 7:55 PM on September 10, 2018