Newswatch/Feedback
| 12:42 UK time, Monday, 20 November 2006
Newswatch, the programme which discusses viewers complaints about ´óÏó´«Ã½ TV News, this week debated a docu-drama about bird flu, and also the media's coverage of mental health issues. You can watch the programme here.
Feedback, Radio 4's programme for audience response, asked Today programme editor Gavin Allen about the changes to its messageboards. 
You can hear the whole of Feedback here.
Comments
As an ex drinker (I gave up 24 years ago) and my life has been quite successful compared to many-I would certainly have been dead by now had I carried on drinking
It is laudable that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ have made a documentary (Paul Watson) revealing the effect of alcohol/alcoholism on real people-usually, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ (and the media as a whole) uses drink and drunks as the subject of comedy-apparently, seeing people unable to talk or controll themselves etc is funny
I have in mind most soaps (especially Coro)and ,indeed, numerous other comedy programms have adopted a similar attitude.Does this reflect the drink habits of the people who make these programs?
Do you(the media, not just the ´óÏó´«Ã½) realise what effect, over the years, you have probably had on our society as a whole?
Do you think our younger generation are Europe's drunks because of our stupidly relaxed attitude to drink and the images prtrayed in the media?
Why is the media so irresponsible in relation to these issues? Why does the ´óÏó´«Ã½ not try to set an example?
Would the media take the same comical view of people out of control on heroin or crack cocain? If not, what is the difference?
Why not make a documentary on these matters-we may then start to educate the next generation on the REAL dangers of drink-it is NOT needed to have a good time-believe me I know!
Terry Lundberg
Terry the culture of drinking in the UK has nothing to do with media representation.
Drinking is deeply ingrained in British culture and in reality the majority of young peole go out get drunk then grow out of it. Theres nothing wrong with that.
We are not like the Russians who perceive beer as a soft drink and start drinking vodka first thing in the morning.
Some people such as yourself it seems may become alcoholics but you have nobody to blame for that but yourself, certainly not the media. You chose to drink that much so take responsibility for your own actions.
Rain in my Heart last evening broke my heart. Watching these wonderful people made me cry. I wanted to reach into the television shout at them, hug them, save them. I'm lost for words. Those images will stay with me now and certainly when my mates say "Go on, have another". Thank God for documentary makers like Paul Watson.
I would like to buy a copy of Rain in the Heart to help others . Is this possible?
An excellent documentary.
Rain in My Heart - First of all I would like to thank to people who participated in this document, especially those with alcoholic addiction. I had a friend who was addicted and I do know that he was ashamed to show himself in a drunken and/addictive state.
The documentary made me physical sick and my heart went out to them. It is very good documentary, it shows the reality (also from Paul who said he would not interfere but shows that we all have a strong feeling of wanting to help others) and it should be shown to all who is in danger of becoming addicted.
I also hope that Drinking will be recognised as an 'drug' addiction and not a 'social' event.