The Audiovisual Council of Andalusia draws attention to jokes on the radio

The CAA warns radio broadcasters that morning telephone jokes cannot be humiliating or offensive

Telephone pranks in radio alarm clock programs include content that can harm the physical, mental or moral development of minors, violate people's right to privacy, promote sexist attitudes and violate the rights of groups that, due to their age or difficulties in understanding, are especially unprotected. These are some of the conclusions drawn from a study prepared by the Audiovisual Council of Andalusia (CAA) following the receipt of various citizen complaints at the Hearing Defense Office (ODA) related to this type of spaces.

To prepare this study, the CAA has analyzed a total of 32 programs that include a section of prank calls broadcast between June 11 and 15 of this year on various FM radio networks (Cadena Dial, Cadena 100, Los 40 principales, Kiss FM, Europa FM, Máxima FM and M80). These sections, which dominate the morning slot and reach, according to Kantar Media data, 60% of the listeners of the channels that broadcast them, usually turn an anonymous subject into an object of ridicule before the audience.

Two modalities appear as fundamental in the sections analyzed: the jokes that are made by choosing a random number, normally broadcast live, and those that respond to a request from a family member or friend who acts as a 'hook', which are usually previously recorded.

The inappropriate practices detected in the study have prompted the CAA to approve recommendations aimed at radio stations. Its objective is to contribute to better self-regulation so that, without giving up their right to freedom of expression, the rights of the audience are preserved. Among them, the right to privacy of people that radio stations could be violating if they broadcast these jokes without having the prior authorization of the person who is the subject of it.

The invasive actions of these programs can become vexatious and, furthermore, illegitimate, if the subject is deprived from the first moment of his right to consent to and prevent them. The general rule must be prior authorization for its issuance. In fact, the CAA has not found in any of the cases analyzed data that allows it to verify that the 'victims' of these pranks have given that authorization.

The CAA has also confirmed that it often starts from a situation of vulnerability of the person who is the target of the joke, which can cause disgust or fear to the person involved, and make them feel like an unwanted object of ridicule. Fundamentally groups that, due to their age or difficulties in understanding, are especially unprotected and uninformed regarding a possible reduction in their rights to privacy and honor.

Some of the cases analyzed carry out procedures that could personally harm the rights of the recipients: deception, intimidation, provocative threats (such as breaking into their bank account), direct accusations, introduction of personal data provided by the 'hooks', humiliation, insult or discredit of the people who become the target of the call. These practices transcend the permissible limits of a typical joke and could severely affect the interlocutors.

The study carried out reveals that adolescents are especially receptive to these sections, therefore, the Council considers it necessary to warn of the inappropriateness of using foul language, direct allusions to sexual practices, and inducing violent, unsupportive, sexist or offensive behavior within these hours.

Against the promotion of sexist behavior

These recommendations remind us that audiovisual communication can never incite hatred or discrimination based on gender, it must respect constitutional values ​​and contribute to eradicating inequality between men and women. However, some of the joke sections analyzed make repeated use of behavioral models in which a degradation of the female role occurs, resorting to negative and even disparaging stereotypes about women. They are presented as a mere sexual object and prostitution is trivialized.

The presentation of women in a degrading and deformed way, their sexual objectification, is not only contrary to their dignity, but, as the CAA states in its report, contributes to the reinforcement of sexist attitudes and opinions, to discrimination in their social and work role, and to real or symbolic violence against women.