Recent dramatic events in Ukraine have left their mark on the news.
The comedy program “New again”, which deals with the last week’s news picture, has also dealt with the news about developments in Ukraine.
Russia with threats: – Intimidation tactics
This has caused viewers to react, and NRK informs Dagbladet on Tuesday that the Broadcasting Council has received a total of eight complaints related to the content of the last two episodes of the program:
– There have been three complaints about “New again” on 18 February and six complaints about “New again” last Friday. Eight of them go directly to humor around Ukraine and Russia, while it is generally believed that NRK should not broadcast the humor program while the war is going on, says Erik Skarrud, special adviser in the Broadcasting Manager’s staff in an e-mail to Dagbladet.
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Too serious
– This is too serious for me to joke with in that way. Many people will lose their lives if there is a war. The program contributes to making harmless and stupid a very serious situation that could threaten world peace, it is stated in one of the complaints the Broadcasting Council has received, reports Campaignswho first mentioned the case.
One example of the content that has made viewers react is a feature where viewers are shown a trailer for a fictional program called “The night before the evening Ukraine”.
– Must stop immediately!
The feature is from the episode that took place on 18 February, ie almost a week before Russia’s actual invasion of Ukraine, and presumably plays precisely on the uncertainty surrounding what Russia was going to do.
“Now it’s here soon, the war in Ukraine”, begins a voice dubbed over clips of tanks, military exercises and several news items that the war in Ukraine may be imminent.
“It has been a confusing week,” says host Pernille Sørensen after the feature has been shown, and describes the process with conflicting messages that have unfolded in the previous week.
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Then the head of the Broadcasting Council Snorre Valen, who for the occasion is a guest in the program, takes the floor and compares the experience of the week’s news with the coverage of the mountain Mannen, which was repeatedly predicted to erupt over several years, without actually doing so. .
The brothers’ fight against Putin
Satire
To Kampanje, the project manager for “Nytt på nytt”, Kjetil Kooyman, states that there is an understanding of the criticism, but that the program can still be responsible for the content:
– We recognize ourselves very well in the feelings expressed in these complaints. Like everyone else, we are shocked that a mad dictator is once again making war in Europe. We believe it is important and right to make satire about this, says Kooyman to Kampanje.
Kooyman further states that there have been no jokes in the program that goes at the expense of Ukraine, but rather about “crazy dictators, lying war propaganda and cowardly politicians”, and that this is something the program will continue with.
Timeline: Russia’s war against Ukraine
Philosopher and researcher at the Department of Peace Research (PRIO) Henrik Syse has previously written about satire and responsibility for expression. He informs Dagbladet that he understands that the program has made some viewers react:
– I understand that you can react, and “New again” should take this discussion internally, because it is highly relevant also for the time ahead, Syse says to Dagbladet.
However, he also emphasizes that the role of satire in society is important, and that the ceiling for satirical content should be high, although it will at times be perceived as painful for some.
– The satire will sometimes hurt because it addresses difficult things with a seemingly unserious tone. We must at least be careful not to create too narrow a framework for satire.
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