This document discusses whether soap operas are able to appropriately cover sensitive storylines. It provides examples of storylines involving assisted suicide, rape, and baby death that generated both positive and negative audience responses. Soap opera producers believe these topics can raise awareness but others argue they promote stereotypes. The document concludes that soap operas will always have large viewership but there are mixed opinions on their ability to handle complex issues sensitively.

1. MANIPULATING MEDIA - PROJECT TWO
Are there some stories that
are just too sensitive for
soap operas to cover?
Team:
Jaz Jones – Project Manager
Charlotte Martin – Researcher
Adi Ratukula – Content Creation
Kaira Stoakes – Production and Dissemination

2. Soap opera:
„a television or radio
drama serial dealing
typically with daily
events in the lives of
the same characters.‟
(Oxford University Press, 2014)

3. Raising awareness or
causing controversy?

4. ROY & HAYLEY CROPPER –
ASSISTED SUICIDE
“Coronation Street regularly features
storylines that concern sensitive medical
and social issues and it was recognised
that Hayley becoming terminally ill would
have a profound resonance for our
audience.”
– ITV Press, 2014

5. ROY & HAYLEY CROPPER –
ASSISTED SUICIDE
“This demonstrates why soap operas are such a bad way
to conduct debates on matters of public policy.”

6. Negative Effect?
Calls to its telephone help-line after Monday's show
were up by almost a third compared to the same
period the previous week.

7. Positive Effect?
Right-to-die campaigner:
Jane Nicklinson
“The storyline has done our cause
(Lawless, 2014)
proud.”

8. JOHN PAUL MCQUEEN – GAY RAPE
“I visited Survivors Manchester with a view on how to
handle the upcoming storyline with the sensitivity it
demands. I was very moved by the bravery of the
survivors I met. It is not just one event – it will follow
the consequences of what happens to the character
after going through an extremely traumatic attack
and how it changes him as a person.”
– Jamie, actor of John Paul McQueen, 2013

9. JOHN PAUL MCQUEEN – GAY RAPE
“We have an important story to tell that has not been told
before. Hollyoaks is known for talking about difficult issues.”
Executive Producer. Bryan Kirkwood

10. JOHN PAUL MCQUEEN – GAY RAPE
“All the partner agencies involved feel that these clips
would be immense value in raising the awareness of male
sexual abuse.”
(Kikelly, 2014)

11. RONNIE BRANNING & KAT SLATER –
BABY SWAP / COT DEATH
• Storyline ended early due to the public claiming
it was „wrong‟ and „insensitive‟.
• Overall 14,444 complaints were made to Ofcom
and the BBC.

12. RONNIE BRANNING & KAT SLATER –
BABY SWAP / COT DEATH
“The storyline wouldn‟t have exceeded their expectations, given that the
soap is known for presenting a range of challenging and controversial
issues.”
(Ofcom, 2011)

13. JACKSON – ASSISTED SUICIDE
• Left a number of viewers offended
• Was accused of using “poor stereotypes” and
misrepresenting those with disabilities

14. Negative Effect?
“I sincerely hope that the 1,200 people who
will be paralysed by spinal cord injuries this
year, and their families, do not find
themselves believing that Jackson‟s story
represents their future.”
(Spinal Injuries Charity Aspire, Alex Rankin, 2011)

15. Positive Effect?
“Drama often reflects issues in wider society
and poses questions to it‟s audience. We‟re
very proud of the way we have tackled this
story and it is our hope that this will make
people think about this sensitive issue”
(Series Producer, Stuart Blackburn, 2011)

16. In conclusion:
Are there some stories that are just too
sensitive
for soap operas to cover?
A mixture of audience
Contribute to
opinions
helping others by
and experiences
adding extras i.e.
helplines
Negative stereotypes
Soap operas are the
and misrepresentations?
Interpellation and person
heart of popular
identity?
culture
Soap operas will always
have millions of viewers
It will always be the best
way to raise awareness

17. References:
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BBC (2011) Eastenders Cleared After Baby Swap Storyline [online]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14363208 (Accessed 2nd February 2014)
STV Entertainment (2011) Emmerdale Overwhelmingly Positive Response To Jackson
Storyline [online] http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/256168-emmerdale-overwhelminglypositive-response-to-jackson-storyline/ (Accessed 1st February 2014)
Mail Online (2011) TV Soap Emmerdale Accused Of Losing The Plot [online]
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2001271/Emmerdale-accused-losing-plotshowing-assisted-suicide-Watershed.html (Accessed 1st February 2014)
The Sun (2011) Suicide Dale Row Worth It [online]
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/3637727/Emmerdale-bossStuart-Blackburn-defends-soaps-controversial-assisted-suicide-storyline.html (Accessed
2nd February 2014)
The Telegraph (2014) Coronation Street Accused Of Stoking Up Debate On Assisted
Suicide [online] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/10585846/CoronationStreet-accused-of-stoking-up-debate-on-assisted-suicide.html (Accessed 2nd February
2014)
Prime Time (2014) Hayley Cropper Right To Die Storyline Sensitive Issue
[online]http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/coronation-street-producer-stuart-blackburn-sayshayley-cropper-right-die-storyline-sensitive-issue (Accessed 1st February 2014)
Soap News (2011) Emmerdale Won’t Glorify Assisted Suicide [online]
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a323210/emmerdale-wont-glorifyassisted-suicide.html (Accessed 3rd February 2014)
Tes Magazine (2008) Soap: More Harm Than Good? [online]
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=383210 (Accessed 1st February 2014)

18. MANIPULATING MEDIA - PROJECT TWO
Thank you for
watching

Team:
Jaz Jones – Project Manager
Charlotte Martin – Researcher
Adi Ratukula – Content Creation
Kaira Stoakes – Production and Dissemination