Literature about distant suffering suggests that mass media are nowadays primary vehicles in representing the suffering Other, thus eliciting in the audience attitudes that span from denial to compassion. Media images are particularly able to trigger reactions that can be situated along a closeness/distance axis. In this context, the ethical dimension is especially relevant: the main question is about how stylistic strategies (both on the content level and in images’ position and captions) can bring the audience to occupy a specific position towards the suffering Other...

In recent years factual entertainment has gained space on Italian television, especially on ‘native digital’ channels such as Real Time, DMAX, La7d and La5. Ordinary people are the main characters in stories that often adopt the makeover format and deal with everyday life, from the home to cooking, from DIY to personal fitness...