How influential is your favorite TV show in making daily, or even life-changing, decisions?
Tenaya Wallace, head of Donate Life Hollywood, spoke with me via telephone about the powerful tool she believes television is, not only in helping people make decisions, but in helping them make decisions that save lives, particularly in regard to organ donation.
Television Is A Powerful Tool
Wallace still credits the now-cancelled CBS series Three Rivers with proven results of the power of television in this regard. She says, “Though only nine episodes aired, nationwide registration for organ donation rose 6% and led to a positive willingness for people to sign up as organ donors.”
Producers Are Rewarded for Inspiring Storylines
As an Expert Consultant to many reality shows, documentaries, and primetime television series, it’s Wallace’s job to make sure producers “get it right.”
Those that do get it right are rewarded with Inspire Awards. Wallace says, “We reward those shows that air positive and inspiring storylines about organ donation. We let them know that dealing with organ and tissue donation in a positive way helps to save lives. We’ve seen it proven time and again.”
Reality Shows Tell It Like It Is
Last year, a lot of Inspire winners were reality shows (i.e., MTV’s True Life, Doctor Oz, The Doctors), which does not surprise Wallace. She concedes, “These are real life stories that show the process of organ and tissue donation and highlight the benefits of being an organ donor and the power of transplantation.”Organ Donation Questions Answered
Wallace says, “In a phenomenol episode airing on ABC’s Boston Medical, a gentleman receives a heart, dies the next day, and then becomes a transplant donor. It’s a very powerful episode, and they treat it with utmost care.”
Read more at Suite101: Three Rivers and Family Guy Lead Impact on Organ Donation | Suite101.com http://cheryl-hollar.suite101.com/three-rivers-and-family-guy-lead-impact-on-organ-donation-a397380#ixzz1ek6YTbs1
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