Telebasura is a Spanish disparaging term for non-fiction TV programs which are perceived to be "junk".
Obviously, the classification of a particular program as telebasura may be subjective, but the term is widely used in the media in Spanish-speaking countries, and there have been attempts to define it in a systematic way. For example, the programs can be defined as ones which disobey the deontologic codes of journalist

Journalism

Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...

s and television presenters and which diffuse values that influence people (mainly youth

Youth

Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...

) in a negative manner. The term telebasura is usually associated with reality programs and talk shows where either the moderator is partial or inexistent, the supporters of a particular point of view are the majority, or insult

Insult

An insult is an expression, statement which is considered degrading and offensive. Insults may be intentional or accidental...

s, abusive language and uproar predominate.

Telebasura arguably has its origins in North American TV programs of the 1980s, but Spanish-speaking countries have developed their own versions of the tabloid talk show

Tabloid talk show

Tabloid talk shows are a genre of American television programming talk shows that achieved peak viewership during the late 20th century. Airing mostly during the day and distributed mostly through broadcast syndication, this genre originated with The Phil Donahue Show and was popularized by the...

. Salvame, a show on Spain's TeleCinco

Telecinco

Telecinco is a Spanish commercial television channel operated by Mediaset España. Launched in 1990 as Tele 5, it was the fifth of the national terrestrial television channels. In 1997, Tele 5 was rebranded as Telecinco, dropping the flower logo seen in other Mediaset channel...

which focuses on celebrity gossip, is an example of a talk show which has been categorised by critics as telebasura.

Characteristics

The telebasura is often compared to the sensationalist press. Some of the arguments used to denounce a program as telebasura are the existence in them of:

• Manipulation of information, or confusion of information and opinion.
• No respect of the right to privacy.
• Conversion of human pain and misery into spectacle.
• Focus on sex, scandal or violence.
• Use of the naked human body, particularly the female one.
• Playing down the consequences of prostitution and drug consumption.
• Aberration presented as a model to imitate.
• Scorn of any figure of authority.
• Fighting rather than dialogue.
• Offensive Language.
• Cultural Relativism, and diffusion of subculture.
• Promotion of pseudoscience and occultism.
• Excessive focus on the private lives of celebrities and famous people.
• Exaltation of ridiculous.