Can we look at this issue as a kind of voyeurism (peep into some other people’s private/intimate moments) indulged in by television cameras?
Yes, this issue can certainly be seen as a kind of voyeurism where television cameras intrude into people's private and intimate moments. The textbook provides the example of the rescue operation of a child named Prince who was trapped in a shaft. CCTV cameras were lowered into the shaft, and for two days, channels broadcast continuous footage of the child "bravely fighting off insects, sleeping or crying out to his mother."
This coverage brought the child's vulnerable and intimate moments directly into viewers' homes. The text explicitly states that "TV is shown to intrude into the personal lives of people." The competition among channels to gain higher viewership led them to suspend all other programmes and focus exclusively on such personal trauma. This creates a situation where the private grief of individuals becomes public entertainment, which is a clear example of voyeuristic behaviour by television media.
Explanation
This question is from the chapter on Mass Media and Communications. The textbook uses the Prince rescue case to illustrate how television channels, in their race for TRPs and exclusive coverage, often cross ethical boundaries. The term 'voyeurism' here refers to the media's tendency to treat private moments of crisis as public spectacle. Students should connect this to the broader pattern of media intrusion into personal lives that the chapter discusses.