A tragedy that exposes exploitative media | Television

My sincere condolences go out to John Balson's family (The Life and Tragic Death of John Balson: How a True-Crime Producer Documented His Own Growing Horror, August 14). As a young journalist in my twenties, I worked for a “true-life” magazine, and as time went on, I too began to feel “ethical regret” about what I was doing. For example, I was asked to go to the door of a family whose murdered daughter was being exhumed.

I was also sent abroad and asked to write sensationalist exposés about local “crushes,” which I couldn't refuse. I ended up leaving the country and retraining to take up a profession where I still ask people about their life experiences, but use them to help them, not to exaggerate them. I think journalists, documentary makers and viewers need to be aware of their own ethical boundaries and watch for “ethical regret” taking hold. John may have felt the need to be the breadwinner, and I have great sympathy for that. Perhaps all of us who watch true crime shows on TV should bear some responsibility for that too – and I include myself in that category.
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The 'success story' of the creative industries is based on employment practices that brought about the impossible living conditions and tragic death of freelance television producer John Balson. The much-vaunted economic success of these industries – cited by politicians at every opportunity – is inherently an exploitation of the intrinsic motivations and deep-rooted work ethic of creative people.

The world-class status of the UK broadcasting, culture and arts sectors comes at the expense of good employment practices, including automatic duty of care for employees. The liberal use of the term 'freelancer' in informal and formal recruitment processes is a convenience for the Commissioners. The lack of a legal and policy definition of this term negates any ambition or social responsibility of the commercial and subsidised arts and culture sectors for constant and meaningful investment in the diverse and nuanced contributions of creative people over their lives.
Dr Susan Jones
Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear