The defamation of Jade Goody: Class in Reality TV

As Charlie Brooker once said when discussing the cruel treatment of Jade Goody by the media "of course the press doesn't care about anything they just want to sell more papers." And in fact the media did play a big role when demonstrating how society reacts to class, and how we use terms such as "chav" to categorise people, how we single out the ones who are less worthy of meaningful success. Take Jade Goody for example, she was titled as 'talentless' by the general public yet they are the reason why Jade Goody was thrusted into the public eye. Big Brother aired in the UK on the 18th July 2000, and still remains on our screens today. The show acts as a reality TV "hybrid", as relatively normal people live out there everyday life, yet are still constantly aware they are being filmed and are constantly encouraged to take part in challenges put together by the producers of the show. Providing this glimpse into reality seemed to shock the rather conservative British audience, as prior to the introduction to Big Brother, or prior to the introduction to satellite and cable the access to different forms of entertainment were limited, therefore there was a peak focus on the lives of the middle class on our screens. The British public weren't used to outspoken characters like Jade Goody, who seemed to 'have no talent' yet still sparked so much attention, so how did the media and public react? Well of course they slandered her! Labelling her a 'pig' and 'scum', ridiculing this young girl, well yes Jade Goody's behaviours weren't always perfect, but had she been from a middle class background would she have been more easily forgiven? I believe the answer to that question is yes, the general public are intimidated by people like Jade Goody, she rose to success regardless of her background, and she was condemned for that. The hidden prejudice among the representation of the working class, still plagues the media today, the working class will only be shown if the story line directly focuses on their background. Ken Loach has directed many fantastic social-realist films that have given a real in-depth look into the lives of the working class, however his films such as 'I, Daniel Blake' contain a main focus on the hardships of living below the poverty line. It's a shame really, because I can't connect to characters who flounce around with their Prada bags, and get whatever they want by fluttering their lashes or flicking their hair, but how can we open up space for the working class character when the public condemns them when they appear?