These are what some are calling 'crafts' used to entertain. But what does it say about the civilization that embraces them and what are the implications for the future of that society?
As most of the world now knows, a couple of 20-something Australian DJs pulled a prank that resulted in the apparent suicide of an unintentional victim. In this case, it was a nurse staffing the hospital ward where Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, wife of the future English King and expecting mother of a future sovereign was being treated for complications from her pregnancy. The nurse, an Indian immigrant took the call and passed it along, apparently without vetting the callers.
Once the prank had been revealed, the nurse apparently committed suicide.
The corporation that owns the radio station whose DJs made the call has sort of apologized. But not really. This kind of behavior is its stock in trade. It is already operating under license review for similar 'japes' in the past. In fact, its director said they did not believe they had done anything illegal. And that such pranks are a 'craft.'
And why does it do this? Because it works, duh. Because its audience likes it. Thinks its funny. Probably because they enjoy the tweaking of all the stiffs and suits and anyone who isnt them or isnt like them. This radio station is one of the most popular in Australia with 15-25 year olds. And this sort of gag is part of what won over its audience.
It would be a relief to jump on the Aussies for this. Which would allow us to assume that we are all morally superior to them. But let's be real. This has become part of who we are as a civilization. Political discourse has coarsened. Vicious personal attacks are the norm, they are increasing - and they work. Suicides or violent action due to internet or social media attacks are rising. Television shows with a 'Gotcha' vibe surpass in popularity what used to be called 'the news.'
In short, this is happening because society wants it to. So the question is why we tolerate, let alone embrace this sort of behavior. Is this merely an outlet for the frustration felt by those in dead end jobs or who dont have jobs and cant find them? Is it because the middle class lifestyle is under attack and disappearing for many? So this is how we share that pain?
The word civilization begins with the letters spelling out civil. For a reason. Because for a society to cohere and work, there have to be norms and a shared sense of respect. Which we owe each other if we want to be part of such a society. And if we dont, we need look no further than Syria or Afghanistan or Mali or a host of other places where order has broken down and people are at each others' throats to see how the alternative might feel. JL
Claire Duffin and Laura Donnelly report in The Telegraph:
At a press conference on Saturday morning, Rhys Holleran, chief executive of 2Day FM's parent company Southern Cross Austereo, stood by the two DJs insisting that he was confident the station had not broken any laws.
"Prank calls as a craft in radio have been going for decades and decades, they are not just part of one radio station, or one network or one country, they are done worldwide." One of the nurses fooled by the prank, Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was found dead yesterday, having apparently committed suicide.
Lord Glenarthur, chairman of King Edward VII’s Hospital, has now written to Australian radio station condemning the call, in which two presenters pretended to be the Queen and the Prince of Wales.
In the letter to Max Moore-Wilton, chairman of Southern Cross Austereo - the parent company of 2DayFM, Lord Glenarthur said: "I am writing to protest in the strongest possible terms about the hoax call made from your radio station, 2DayFM, to this hospital last Tuesday.
He added that the decision to transmit the pre-recorded call was "truly appalling".
"The immediate consequence of these premeditated and ill-considered actions was the humiliation of two dedicated and caring nurses who were simply doing their job tending to their patients.
"The longer term consequence has been reported around the world and is, frankly, tragic beyond words.
"I appreciate that you cannot undo the damage which has been done but I would urge you to take steps to ensure that such an incident could never be repeated."
Mrs Saldanha was working on reception when she took the call at 5.30am on Tuesday from the two presenters, Mel Greig and Michael Christian.
She put the call straight through to the Duchess's ward, where another nurse spent two minutes chatting about the Duchess's condition and treatment.
The prank call was pre-recorded and vetted by lawyers before being broadcast to listeners in Sydney.
Mrs Saldanha, a 46-year-old mother of two, was found unconscious on Friday morning close to the hospital where the Duchess spent three nights earlier this week being treated for severe pregnancy sickness.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority, which regulates radio broadcasting in the country, said it had been inundated with complaints about the stunt and there have been calls for the two presenters to be sacked.
Advertisers, including supermarket giant Coles and telecommunications company Telstra, have also reportedly deserted the station following the prank.
But the radio station has mounted a provocative defence of its actions, saying hoax calls "as a craft" have been going for "decades and decades".
Mr Holleran said the company and the presenters had "mutually decided that their show will not run until further notice out of respect of what can only be described as a tragedy."
The Royal College of Nursing said today that it did not condone the trick. Dr Peter Carter said in a statement: "This is tragic news, and the thoughts of all at the Royal College of Nursing go to the family of Jacintha Saldanha.
"It is deeply saddening that a simple human error due to a cruel hoax could lead to the death of a dedicated and caring member of the nursing profession."
The New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association has also written to Jeremy Simpson, general manager of 2Day FM.
In a statement, the association said: "We urge all nurses and midwives who are under pressure or feeling stress to seek appropriate assistance and to not feel afraid to reach out for help."
Police said the cause of Mrs Saldanha's death was "unexplained" but they were not treating it as suspicious.
Paramedics tried to revive her but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Sources said she appeared to have taken her own life.
A friend of Mrs Saldanha said her partner Benedict Barboza, 49, and the couple's teenage son and daughter, aged 14 and 16, were being comforted at their home in Bristol.
The man said they were "very, very shocked and unhappy at the tragedy"
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they also were "deeply saddened" by the news.
In a statement, the hospital said: “It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha Saldanha. Jacintha has worked at the King Edward VII Hospital for more than four years, she was an excellent nurse and a well respected and popular member of staff with all her colleagues.
“We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been supporting her throughout this difficult time.”
John Lofthouse, chief executive of the hospital, said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends. Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much-loved and valued colleague.”
Lord Glenarthur, chairman of the hospital, said previously: “This is a tragic event. Jacintha was a first class nurse who cared diligently for hundreds of patients during her time with us. She will be greatly missed.”
On Saturday morning there were a growing number of flowers left outside the hospital's nurses' block, just around the corner from the main building.
Attached to a bunch red, white and blue flowers, a note read: "Dear Jacintha, our thoughts are with you and your family. From all your fellow nurses, we bless your soul. God bless."
The note was signed: "Sarah Storey (fellow nurse from the next block) (THE HEART HOSPITAL)"
A St James's Palace spokesman said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jacintha Saldanha.
"Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha's family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time."
Julia Gillard, the Australian Prime Minister, called Ms Saldanha's death a terrible tragedy, saying: "Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this time."
In their initial apology the two presenters said: "We were very surprised that our call was put through. We thought we'd be hung up on as soon as they heard our terrible accents.
"We're very sorry if we've caused any issues and we're glad to hear that Kate is doing well."
It is not the first time the station has been condemned. In 2009, the Australian Communications and Media Authority imposed a licence condition for five years ordering 2Day FM to provide increased protection for children after a 14-year-old was attached to a lie detector test and admitted to being raped live on air.
Jonathan Holmes, presenter of the media watch programme on ABC, said on BBC Radio 4 this morning: "2Day FM is a very popular station, especially with young people, the 15 to 25 age group. Those two DJs are in their 20s, one of them had only just started.
"It is very successful and one of the reasons it is successful is precisely because of these kind of japes, some of which are in very dubious taste. It's managers constantly tread the edge of what they are allowed to get away with."
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