Why Does Angelina Jolie Have my Job?

Committed and informed celebrity spokespeople do not hinder those of us actually working in the field. They help create a discourse and provide vital knowledge to those, who otherwise, may not engage in such issues. Ms Iverson says “I think it's because of them, I can actually explain myself to people who don't know exactly what it is that I do.”

This is also true of reporters and producers of news and current affairs. Brittney Nystrom, Director of Policy and Legal Affairs at the National Immigration Forum in Washington D.C says "it's not only the viewers who take notice when a celebrity speaks about a tragedy or visits a camp.” Ms Nystrom suggests that “reporters and producers are more likely to cover an issue that has been introduced by Angelina Jolie or Jessica Simpson than if 1000 experts on the issue begged them to pay attention.” It seems that the concept of ‘news values’ is somewhat dictated to by what celebrities deem appropriate to support. However, those stars that use their humanitarian profile as a means of further exploiting their celebrity status can have a damaging effect.

In March 2010, Lindsey Lohan travelled India to film a documentary on child labour and trafficking of women that was broadcast on BBC3. She created a controversy when she falsely claimed to have personally rescued 40 children. She boasted on Twitter, “over 40 children saved so far ... Within one day's work ... This is what life is about ... Doing THIS is a life worth living!!!"

She was adamant that the experience had changed her life, complaining about the superficiality of celebrity in contrast to the fulfilment of humanitarian activism. "Focusing on celebrities and lies is so disconcerting, when we can be changing the world one child at a time ... hope everyone can see that," she said

However, activists in charge of the raids claimed that Ms Lohan arrived in India after the raids had occurred and the children had been rescued. The activists criticized her comments, accusing her of trivializing the issues of child labour and trafficking.

It is an indictment on our society that the status quo requires a celebrity to tell them what is immoral and ugly in the world and what therefore deserves their attention and support in rectifying.

However, Ms Iverson believes that “if this is what it takes to get people to notice refugees, I'm all for it. If Angelina Jolie can make the average American care about the average refugee from Iraq, Burma, Somalia, etc, then let her. It makes my job of reigning in that support that much easier.”

Perhaps the use of celebrity spokespeople is a vital way of exposing atrocities and garnering the funds needed to provide protection and accountability, as human kind is becoming a little more immune to violence and a little more obsessed with celebrity, each day.

Ms Nystrom believes that "we like to keep our entertainment separate from reality. It's more comfortable that way. Seeing celebrities surrounded by terrible poverty or despair forces us to look at a reality we otherwise choose to ignore."