FIFTY years ago, there were public information films to let people know about dangers to health and wellbeing. In 2008, we have the TV soaps.
The screen habit that started during wartime - "Loose lips sink ships" and all that - became old-fashioned in the latter part of the 20th century, but the determination to educate the public on a variety of important subjects was quickly taken up by the world of television.
Now, Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks don't just have storylines about family squabbles, love tangles, neighbourliness and community projects.
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Turn on the set and you can see the Jeremy Kyle world of love children, incest, rape, miscarriage, Aids and even murder.
And don't they do it well?
Both production crew and actors research their subjects well, and there are always helplines and easy access to further information if viewers "have been at all affected by the issues raised here".
In other words, if you are a victim or closely involved, people are waiting to listen and talk.
Corrie in particular has tackled hard-hitting storylines that have real resonance wherever you live. Their latest two have related to babies: David Platt's girlfriend, Tina, having an abortion, and sweet Maria having to give birth to her dead baby in a harrowing hospital scene.
Tonight, there is deserved recognition for what many viewers still feel is the soft side of TV when the British Soap Awards are broadcast.
We already know that Jack P Shepherd got an award as Best Villain, but the young cast of that other Northern soap, Hollyoaks, did well with its recent anorexia storyline.
All ages watch the soaps so this is a sensible way to get information across to both them and to their parents about relevant current issues.
Call it social engineering, call it public information dissemination if you like. All I know is that having real life reflected as "entertainment" in this way truly educates us all, and hopefully helps when human disasters strike.
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