← Back to Concept Index
television-as-governance
The concept that TV functions as a technology of governance by shaping public perceptions of social problems and mobilizing private resources to address them.
1 chapter across 1 book
Better Living through Reality TV: Television and Post-Welfare Citizenship (2008)Laurie Ouellette; James Hay
Chapter 1
Chapter 1 analyzes the rise of reality TV charity programs as a form of privatized social care aligned with neoliberal welfare reform. It situates these programs within a broader shift from the traditional Welfare State to a market-driven 'Opportunity, Inc.' model that emphasizes personal responsibility, self-empowerment, and private sector involvement in social service delivery. The chapter critiques how television, under deregulation, mobilizes compassion and private resources to manage social needs while reinforcing a post-welfare citizenship ethos.