Finding their voices again: a media project offers a floor for vulnerable patients, clients and the socially deprived

Ralf Stutzki,Stella Reiter-Theil,Markus Weber

doi:10.1007/s11019-013-9468-2

Abstract

‘DU bist Radio’ (DBR) is an award winning [DBR has been awarded with the “Catholic Media Award of the German Bishops Conference, Prädikat WERTvoll” (2011), the Suisse “Media Prize Aargau/Solothurn” (2010), the German “Alternative Media Award” (2009) and was nominated for the “Prix Europa” (2009)] monthly radio format that goes on air on three Swiss radio stations. The purpose of this program which was first broadcast in 2009 is the development of a new media format which—without applying any journalistic (or other) filter and influence—conveys authenticity of expression amongst society’s most vulnerable fellow citizens such as patients, clients and the socially deprived. So-called marginal groups are encouraged to speak for themselves, as a possible paradigm case for encouraging the inclusion of patients’ and relatives’ “unfiltered” voices in general and in clinical ethics as well. Before handing over the microphone to the groups in focus, a team of journalists, educated in medical ethics, over a period of 4 days, teaches them on-site radio skills and craft. Once this task is completed and the actual production of the broadcast begins, the media crew does not exert any influence whatsoever on the content of the 1-h program. Thus, the final product is solely created and accounted for by the media-inexperienced participants, leading to unforeseen and often surprising results. It is discussed that the DBR approach of fostering authenticity of expression can serve as an enhancement to today’s respect and autonomy oriented field of medical ethics.

Highlights

There are many groups in our society, of which we know merely that they exist
Abstract ‘DU bist Radio’ (DBR) is an award winning [DBR has been awarded with the ‘‘Catholic Media Award of the German Bishops Conference, Pradikat WERTvoll’’ (2011), the Suisse ‘‘Media Prize Aargau/Solothurn’’ (2010), the German ‘‘Alternative Media Award’’ (2009) and was nominated for the ‘‘Prix Europa’’ (2009)] monthly radio format that goes on air on three Swiss radio stations
This experience is not strange to social scientists (Devereux 1973) and we argue that this information, given upon completion of the interviews, provides a fruitful and valuable input for the on-going amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-research as well as for medical ethics at large

Summary

Introduction

There are many groups in our society, of which we know merely that they exist. our lack of in-depth interest in them, and their exclusion from societal resources which can be accessed by us at any time, deprive them of their right to fully live out their humanity. Upon completion of the study questionnaires and semistructured interviews, when the recording device had been switched off and no further questions were directed at them, a majority of both patients and caregivers began to open up to the interviewer, thereby providing another quality of insights into their overall condition This experience is not strange to social scientists (Devereux 1973) and we argue that this information, given upon completion of the interviews, provides a fruitful and valuable input for the on-going ALS-research as well as for medical ethics at large. The interviewee invited the interviewer into another room in his house and began to share with him one of his life long passions: music This room was filled with guitars, countless CDs and LPs. Due to the advanced stage of the ALS disease, the interviewee’s hands and arms were completely paralyzed. DBR calls them ‘‘Menschen mit einer besonderen Lebensgeschichte’’ (‘people with a remarkable story in life’)

Background

Results

Discussion