NCJ Number
58296
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A POLICE EXECUTIVE, A POLICE LEGAL ADVISOR, AND AN ACTOR--ALL PARTICIPANTS IN AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE WORKSHOP--DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF TELEVISION VIOLENCE ON VIEWERS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.
Abstract
THE CHIEF OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C., POLICE FORCE ATTEMPTS TO PLACE THE MATTER OF VIOLENCE ON TELEVISION IN PERSPECTIVE, NOTING THAT TRADITIONS OF VIOLENCE PREDATE TELEVISION AND THAT RESEARCH FINDINGS ON THE IMPACT OF TELEVISION VIOLENCE ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE. THE CHIEF SUGGESTS THAT LIVE BROADCASTS, PARTICULARLY NEWSCASTS, ARE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS AS TARGETS OF SCRUTINY BY THOSE CONCERNED WITH TELEVISION VIOLENCE AND ITS EFFECTS. THE LEGAL ADVISER TO THE SAN JOSE, CALIF., POLICE DISCUSSES THE IMPACT OF TELEVISION VIOLENCE ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE, NOTES WHY THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON TO REGULATE ITSELF, AND SUGGESTS THAT FEDERALLY LICENSED BROADCASTERS BE REQUIRED TO TAKE AFFIRMATIVE STEPS TO COUNTERACT THE DANGERS OF TELEVISION VIOLENCE. THE PRECEDENT FOR THIS SUGGESTION IS THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATION COMMISSION'S REQUIREMENT THAT BROADCASTERS WHO ADVERTISED CIGARETTES PROVIDE FREE REPLY TIME TO THOSE CONCERNED WITH THE HAZARDS OF SMOKING. AN ACTOR WHO PORTRAYED A POLICE OFFICER IN A TELEVISION PROGRAM DISCUSSES THE CONCERNS OF TELEVISION WRITERS AND PERFORMERS OVER CENSORSHIP AND EMPHASIZES THE LIMITED EXTENT TO WHICH TELEVISION CAN REASONABLY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BEHAVIOR OF VIEWERS. THE POSSIBILITY THAT TELEVISION PROGRAMS PORTRAYING CRIMINALS AS LOSERS MAY ACTUALLY DETER CRIME RATHER THAN ENCOURAGE IT IS RAISED, AS IS THE POINT THAT THE APPROPRIATE CENSORS ARE THE VIEWERS, AND PARTICULARLY THE PARENTS OF YOUNG VIEWERS. (LKM)