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US broadcaster CBS (symbol image): »Ingenuity and commitment«
Photo: SOPA Images / LightRocket / Getty Images
With the announcement of a reality show about the commitment to charity, the US broadcaster CBS has caused controversy in the US. In the program "The Activist", which is to be broadcast from October onwards, activists compete against each other for prize money, according to the broadcaster's website. Numerous well-known activists accused the station of turning social engagement into a game. The producers defended the concept.
According to CBS, viewers can watch the efforts of six protagonists trying to "create powerful movements" and "make real change in one of three vital global areas: health, education and the environment." The final is to take place on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome at the end of October. The »success« of the candidates should be measured by the perception of their activities in online media and by the moderators. Several stars are involved in the production, including singer Usher and actress Priyanka Chopra.
The announcement caused criticism in activist circles: “Couldn't you give the money directly to activists instead of turning activism into a game and investing a fraction of the money needed in a 'prize'?
People are dying, «wrote the actress and feminist Jameela Jamil on the online service Twitter.
“It's hard enough to fight for a cause.
And then you have to dance and sing for a bunch of millionaires as they decide who is worthy of their crumbs, ”said Nabilah Islam, a former US Democratic congressional candidate in Georgia.
And the podcaster and activist Joey Ayoub spoke of a "dehumanizing" project: "Such obscene shows make perfect sense in a detached, elitist world where activists are nothing more than budding entrepreneurs."
The non-governmental organization Global Citizen, which was involved in the production, defended the concept: activism should not be trivialized, instead the »ingenuity and commitment« of the candidates should be shown and their concerns brought to an even larger audience.
Michael Rapino, managing director of the media company Live Nation Entertainment, spoke of a "unique example of how entertainment can change the world" according to media information.
The show combines »competition and compassion« and shows that »there are no problems that we cannot solve when we work together and demand change«.
ime / AFP