PressEthic

First Lady Laura Bush will appear in the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The sequence was taped earlier this week, during Ms Bush’s visit to Mississippi. What should journalists think about that?

The New York Times points out the political aspect of this appearance. According to the Times, this visit “suggested that despite an increased effort by President Bush to address the hurricane crisis - his visit to Texas on Tuesday was his seventh to the area since Hurricane Katrina hit, hers was her fifth - the White House was casting about for more creative ways to convey its concern and manage public opinion.”

Of course, Laura Bush does not pretend that she does politics. But this show will definitely have a political impact. After this show, many people in the US will remember that the presidency helped the victims and provided them with assistance. This will probably have more impact than an entire news broadcast describing the measures taken by the administration to help the victims. But what will be shown on Extreme Makeover is only part of the reality.

In the New York Times, Tom Forman, the show's creator and executive producer, said it was not about politics : “I don't think she was there as a politician or a politician's wife or even as the first lady”. But he seemed to acknowledge that TV reality shows should usually not feature politicians. "I think given the scope of the disaster, you throw the rules out the window," Forman said.

I totally disagree with that. I think that especially in times of disaster, you have to go by the rules. When something unusual happens, it is easier for politicians to manipulate public opinion, especially in a tragedy that has a big emotional impact like Katrina. That is when the media should be the most careful.