9 May, 2011
Following a discussion on their topical breakfast show, The Wright Stuff, Channel 5 have found themselves staring down the barrel of the Gamers’ Voice weapon of justice, after the group took issue with the show’s ‘Do shoot ‘em up games lead to real violence?’ item shown last month.
The complaint referenced the misinformed and biased discussion between the show’s panellists, as well as the broadcast of particularly explicit scenes from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 before the watershed.
Broadcaster Anne Diamond in particular feels very strongly that video games are to blame for the rise in violent crime, even going as far as to dismiss research showing that there is no link. It’s these claims that have gotten Gamers’ Voice especially rattled, leading them to take their concerns to OFCOM. Today, the group published the response they received from editor of The Wright Stuff, Caroline Davies.
“We always make every effort to ensure that discussions on controversial subjects are fair and balanced, and I am happy that we did so on this occasion. We are, however, an open access current affairs discussion programme and are strongly committed to fostering robust debate and the expression of strongly held opinions. We are the only such programme on British television.
We always aim for balance but what we will never do is suppress the expression of legitimate and reasonable opinions simply because we disagree with them.”
Caroline went on to point out that presenter Matthew Wright had pointed out to Diamond that research into the negative effects of violent video games had proved inconclusive. In response to criticism levelled at the show for broadcasting the infamous ‘No Russian’ scene from Modern Warfare 2 before the watershed, she said,
“It was essential to use a short clip to illustrate the discussion; many of our viewers are not gamers and it may have been meaningless to them otherwise.
It was editorially necessary, but very short, and as you point out, a game image rather than real violence.”
Gamers’ Voice suggest that Caroline may have missed the point of what the group were trying to say, as well as making an effort to skirt around the real issues, like the offence such inflammatory remarks have caused within the gaming community. However, they are also pleased that Channel 5 have taken the time to review the episode and are currently awaiting a response from OFCOM. In the meantime, check out the full response on the Gamers’ Voice website!
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