April 16, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
The writers of White Courtesy Telephone are taking aim at charity-themed reality television shows, saying they exploit the less fortunate for entertainment.
Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway, a British show in which a group of five wealthy philanthropists listen to charitable pitches from those in need to give them money, are viewed by some as a way to bring philanthropy to the masses.
But White Courtesy Telephone sees the shows in a much different light.
“Grab a bowl of popcorn,” writes an anonymous blogger under the pseudonym John Anger. “There are valuable lessons for the whole family in the humiliation of the poor.”
That mindset is echoed in comments left on the blog.
“There’s something disturbing about this kind of charitable spectacle, about the idea that one can address the issue of persistent poverty by tossing a few large appliances off the back of a truck, for example,” writes Albert Ruesga, White Courtesy Telephone’s founder, in a comment. “Perhaps ultimately it’s better to be charitable the way Oprah is than the way most people aren’t.”
Mr. Ruesga is vice president at the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, in Washington.
Bruce Trachtenberg, executive director of the Communications Network, which represents public-relations executives at foundations, offers a similar assessment:
“Same amount of humbleness, humility and charity as the guy who stands up in church or temple to announce ‘I give one million dollars anonymously.’”
You can learn about other charity-themed reality shows in a recent Chronicle of Philanthropy article.
You can also check out this clip from “Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway”.
Are such shows good for the sector — or are they exploiting those who are less fortunate? Click on the comments link below this post to share your opinion.
