Expert: Patrick J. Murray - 11/17/2011

Question
I'm 37, from South Yorkshire, England and have recently nominated my close friend's son, who's 23, for his hard work helping disabled adults (those who have learning difficulties) for charity, to the producers of Noel's Christmas Presents (look it up on Google, since it's not shown in the U.S. and Canada). He doesn't know I've done this, and I doubt he'll read this site, so I guess this is OK to mention. His mum knows about the nomination, but has (obviously) kept it secret - we don't know if ti's been accepted yet.

However, my question is - can television companies blur out faces/ pixelization of faces at the subject's request? I remember my friend's son once saying if he was ever on TV, he'd have his face blurred out/pixelizated just for his own personal safety/embarrassment. He'd said this when we were watching a documentary a few Christmases ago.

Would the producers of Noel's Christmas Presents agree to this, and are such things routinely done?

I am aware that people's faces are blurred out if they're convicted criminals, about to face trial, or undercover police officers, but also for logos of companies to avoid product placement (as you've probably seen vans with logos blurred on TV).

He has his own reasons for wanting it, nothing nefarious, but do you think that TV companies would honour such a request?
He's a great lad, very helpful, kind, caring, you'd think on a show that according to its description:
Maybe it’s someone who has given their life to help a charity, an individual or an underprivileged group. Do you know someone who has faced adversity, through personal circumstances, illness or loss and has been a selfless and inspiring example to others? Is there someone in your life who dreams of spending Christmas with a lost love or family member they haven’t seen for a long time but their current circumstances prevent them from doing so? How would you reward them to make this Christmas extra special?

Noel Edmonds travels the length and breadth of the country to surprise some of the nation’s most deserving, hard-working and selfless people with a Christmas Present they will never forget.  Filming starts very soon, so please get your suggestions in now for those people who go further than anyone else to make a positive difference to their individual communities and the people living within them. Noel will give each person selected a once in a lifetime present or trip which they may have dreamed of, but have never been able to achieve.

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(That isn't blatant advertising, it's relevant in context.)

I can accept it does seem unusual but I'm a little bit concerned about this, if only from the audience point of view - I'm wondering, if he did get on the show (and TBH, he does deserve it, OK, so he's not flawless, no one is, but he is kind, and very helpful) would the audience think "Why is his face blurred out?"


Thanks
Joanne aka "Jo"

Answer
Hi Jo....

Thanks for stopping by...In this world today it is always refreshing to hear stories especially of young people who are interested in making a difference by channeling some positive energy toward their fellow man.

It is also good to hear that there is a show that so honors such people - possibly shedding light on them even when the spotlight is not sought or even desired.  the stories point up to us there is good in this world - and actually much of it is - without always accentuating the negative or sensational to just attract viewers.

To specifically answer your question, I would suggest, without knowing what the production company there would do, that they would not want the principal character of a "feel-good" story to have his face blurred out. I can appreciate his reticence to reveal himself to a national audience for a variety of reasons, but the story looks a little strange to the viewer with the principal character hiding his face.

Note the use of this technigue in other stories or the news...it is done to protect witnesses, victims of a serious crime, whistleblowers at times, young children who have suffered some sort of abuse, and so on...you have seen enough of that I am sure. The news group or production team employs this tool for either protection or in some cases simply because they did not obtain permission from that person for their appearance.

Knowing all this, I would suggest to you that the young man in question here, though shy and maybe not quite wanting to broadcast his private charity on  a national platform. If I were the production company and he vehemently demonstrated to us that he has no desire to be on camera nor would want his face used as part of the story, I would probably walk away as a producer. The blurred figure feeds another connotation that does not really imply charity work - it would look to the audience like he may be hiding something - even though the story would be positive and uplifting about his charity work.

There is really no good reason for him to want this as he would not be putting himself or his family in jeopardy...nor is he trying to hide something. Think of it yourself as a viewer - you want to see who this outstanding young man is...you would be annoyed watching a wonderful piece on a faceless character - I just don't believe the company would pursue it.

I would also suggest having worked with a lot of amateur talent on camera and trying to coax them into just being themselves on the camera, that this young man may warm more to the idea if the company selects him for their story. It just may be the kind of thing that he realizes with some reluctance that may shine a very positive light on his work and actually help in gaining more funds to help his cause or raise more awareness about the plight of disabled adults. If he was picked, a short conversation pointing out the spotlight that this show would put onto his line of work might change his mind. I would hope that he would be less concerned about his own visibility and more concerned about the awareness this story would create. If he is the young man you say he is, then he would recognize that fact and cheerfully accept some face time to promote the plight of disabled adults - which affects not only his area but the entire UK in this case.

I did check out the web page on Sky TV and it looks like a great show. Definitely uplifting and necessary in today's world!

I hope my thoughts have helped you out here today. If I can assist further, please feel free to stop back! Oh and by the way, from your cousins across the pond here, Merry Christmas to you!

Patrick Murray