Agree! Everything (or at least every useful and surprisingly moral lesson) i know, i learnt from TV.
From the ills of untethered capitalism in the 1992 HK TVB series "Greed of Man", to the importance of upholding justice and righteousness in all 1980s to 2000s cop and lawyer shows in the US, it helped to signal to my pre-formed mind a sort of moral compass and justice, at least in Tinseltown, if not our up or downtown alleys.
So parents, reconsider the oft cited and perhaps little researched mantra that TV is bad for your kids? Lol food for thought, happy weekend!
How a TV Show Forced Britain’s Devastating Post Office Scandal Into the Light https://lnkd.in/ga49w-eM
🎉 New blog! Should a TV drama influence public policy? Joseph Owen argues whether it is desirable for narratives to have such influence on the judiciary and democracy?
Read more here 👉
The current media frenzy over alleged misconduct at the BBC underlines the crucial role of whistleblowing procedures.
In recent days, the media has been abuzz with the story of a well-known BBC presenter who faces serious allegations of misconduct. The incident has once again highlighted the significance of robust whistleblowing procedures within organisations. Whistleblowing, the act of exposing wrongdoing or unethical behaviour, serves as a vital mechanism for ensuring accountability, transparency, and safeguarding the rights and well-being of individuals.
Whistleblowing procedures play a pivotal role in preserving ethical standards within organisations. By providing employees and stakeholders with an avenue to report misconduct, they empower individuals to uphold the values of honesty, integrity, and fairness. In the case of the BBC presenter story, the existence and compliance with a well-functioning whistleblowing mechanism could have flagged the early identification and investigation of the alleged misconduct, ensuring a prompt and appropriate response.
Whistleblowing procedures, when effectively implemented, can foster a culture of integrity, ethical behaviour, and accountability. They send a clear message that unethical actions will not be tolerated and that individuals have a responsibility to report any wrongdoing they witness. A strong organisational culture, supported by whistleblowing mechanisms, promotes an environment where misconduct is less likely to occur, fostering trust and loyalty among employees and stakeholders alike.
You can read our full article on whistleblowing on our website here https://lnkd.in/e6fzDfrH#whistleblowing#bbc#currentevents#governance#corporategovernance#companysecretary
Reflecting on the Horizon IT scandal detailed in "Mr Bates vs The Post Office", the implications created by the intersection of work, the legal system, automation bias, and management are striking.
Key takeaways:
1️⃣ Workplace Injustice:
The scandal highlights the immense challenges sub-postmasters faced—wrongful accusations, isolation, and stigmatization. A poignant reminder to advocate for fairness and empathy in our workplaces.
2️⃣ Legal System's Role:
The Post Office's blind trust in technology led to a legal catastrophe. It prompts us to scrutinize the legal systems supporting workplace disputes, urging reforms that ensure justice prevails over assumptions.
3️⃣ Automation Bias:
The myth of 'infallible systems' perpetuated the scandal, showcasing the dangers of automation bias. In our tech-driven workplaces, it's crucial to balance trust in technology with a critical eye to prevent grave injustices.
4️⃣ Management's Responsibility:
The real scandal isn't just technological failure—it's a managerial failure. Organizations must foster cultures where employees feel heard, and where management actively questions systems rather than blindly trusting them.
Let's leverage these insights to cultivate workplaces that prioritize fairness, empower employees, and scrutinize the balance between technology and human judgment. Together, we can shape a work environment where justice is paramount.
#WorkplaceJustice#LegalReform#AutomationEthics#ManagementInsights
My voice is on television!
For my most recent project with ABC News 20/20, I spent months in the Great State of Texas covering the criminal case against Kaitlin Armstrong.
You can hear my voice featured here in the trailer, as well as in our recently aired two-hour documentary. Wondering why?
Sharing a peek behind the scenes of the unpredictable world of documentary production:
Before every interview, I ask our guests to rephrase my question within their answers, reminding them that my voice will be cut in post-production.
The classic example I give is: if I ask, “What color is the sky?” Please tell me, “The sky is blue,” rather than just answer in fragment, “Blue.”
Answering in this manner doesn’t just sound better, it’s vital to our show’s structure. So, even though I've interviewed dozens of the individuals you've seen on 20/20 over the years, you've never heard my voice on air.
Until now!
That’s me at 00:12: “Um...So, breaking news…Kaitlin Armstrong escaped from Travis County Deputy’s custody this morning.”
I remember that October morning vividly - I was seated behind a wall of camera equipment in KVUE’s newsroom in Austin, TX. We were mid-interview with the incredible journalist Tony Plohetski, who had been covering this case locally for over a year.
As I scanned my sheet for the next question, KVUE’s News Director tapped me on the shoulder, his phone open to a Tweet, reading – “BREAKING: Kaitlin Armstrong has escaped from Travis County Deputy’s custody this morning. More to come.”
Yes, you read that right. The defendant from the same criminal case we were interviewing Tony about had just escaped from police custody. During our interview.
In that moment, I had a choice to make: should I sit on the news until we’re wrapped, or cut the interview short and give Tony this shocking new information? We were already short on time, so I was apprehensive to disrupt his flow.
But this was breaking news, and I knew Tony had a job to do.
So, I interrupted his interview as you see in this video, and seized the opportunity to document the aftermath.
With KVUE’s permission, I directed our crew to keep rolling as Tony frantically leapt into action - fact-checking, calling sources, and crafting in-the-moment coverage of this huge development.
In the end, we were able to finish Tony’s interview and deliver this compelling window into the reality of a local journalist racing to provide breaking news to his trusted audience.
Our two-hour documentary, “Three Shots in the Dark,” aired live on ABC and is now available to stream on Hulu.
Many thanks to KVUE, and of course to Tony Plohetski for allowing us to showcase his work!