‘You're not journalists' campaign launched against Lebanese TV programmes

The users have accused three tabloid-style talk shows for exploiting and sensationalising personal issues and scandals to increase their viewers at the expense of professional journalism. All three shows have come under fire recently for different reasons.

The three shows they singled out for their scorn are: 1544, hosted by Tony Khalifa, Lil-Nashr (For Publication), hosted by Rima Karaki, and Hki Jalis (Talk Straight), hosted by Joe Maalouf.

In March, Rima Karaki's show broadcast a video allegedly showing an incident of sexual harassment involving a priest. Critics accused the show of ambushing the man, while others defended it for exposing him.

Both Khalifa's and Maalouf's shows have been criticised for the way they handled the violent murder of a Mount Lebanon wife by her husband in May, asking inappropriate questions to the victim's children and allowing guests to blame the victim for her murder on account of her alleged cheating.

Maalouf's show was also mocked for sensationalising the high-profile divorce of model Joelle Hatem and singer George al-Rassi.

Twitter users expressed relief at the end of the current programming cycle, with these tabloid shows set to go on a hiatus to make room for Ramadan's special programming.

The hashtag seems to have first been launched by al-Jabha al-Majaziya, the Metaphorical Front, a Twitter satire account.

Mujtahid: #You_are_not_journalists: There are many red lines you no longer respect