The recent cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel’s show has brought back the debate on freedom of speech and freedom of the press — two pillars of critical importance not only for the media, but for every communication professional. From this perspective, and given that very often perception is reality, such cases are opportunities for reflection.
Where does responsibility lie when entertainment content meets political commentary? How do we manage the fine line between satire and insult, between democratic dialogue and social unrest? Communication professionals are challenged to operate with flexibility, recognition of context and an emphasis on understanding the audience.
At the same time, the digital age, with the speed of information dissemination and the plurality of voices, makes the issue more urgent: online audience and mechanisms of self-regulation and censorship are under the microscope.
The recent situation that has developed in the US – and of which the Kimmel incident is only a small part – easily evokes very unpleasant associations from dark times that seemed a forgotten past.
The question that now arises is: can in such circumstances the communication consultant, who seeks to contribute to a public dialogue that respects diversity and strengthens pluralism, proceed not with easy solutions, but with responsibility, consistency and respect?
Another… matter of perception
