Although television is not the only means of reaching out to children, it has become one of the primary sources of bringing young people in closer touch with the world around them. Many of the best educational television shows also teach children how to behave around others, how to share, and how to stay away from serious dangers like drugs and alcohol. The fact is, many children use television as their primary source of information about our society and appropriate behavior therein.The Media Research Center recently released a study of prime time programming examining both language and sexual conduct in the family hour between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. The report told us what many parents already know -- the bulk of television programming has rapidly grown ruder, cruder, and more lewd over the past few years. As the Media Research Center documented in its report, the networks this fall clearly abandoned any last semblance of the family hour and loaded up the 8:00 hour with sex scenes and a litany of what we once thought of as dirty jokes. The sheer volume of these messages undermines the ability of parents to shape their children's values.
I joined the Media Research Center and a group of Senators and Members of Congress in writing to the Presidents of the Entertainment Divisions of ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, UPN, and Warner Brothers Television urging the networks to reestablish the family hour and recreate a safe haven for our children. Like any other parent, I don't think it is too much to ask to have one hour a night that is junk-free.
Because of my strong interest in protecting children from offensive television programming, I joined with Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota and offered an amendment to S. 652, the Telecommunications Competition and Deregulation Act, that encourages the broadcast and cable television industries to voluntarily establish rules for the rating of violence or other objectionable content in television programming. The amendment also recommends that representatives of these industries consult with the appropriate public interest groups and individuals from the private sector when formulating these rules. If the broadcast and cable television industries do not establish such rules within one year of enactment of this statute, a five-member panel appointed by the President, the Television Rating Commission, would create a rating system for them.
Our amendment also directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require television sets manufactured in or imported into the United States, and having screen sizes of 13 inches or greater, to be equipped with circuitry designed to enable viewers to block the display of channels during a particular time and all programs with a common rating. This computer chip, also called a "v-chip," will allow parents to keep violent or offensive television programs off their television sets.
A version of S. 652, the Telecommunications Act, was signed into law by President Clinton on February 8, 1996. I am pleased that this statute includes the v-chip requirements for television sets with screens of at least 13 inches. The cable and broadcast industry now have one year to develop ratings for sex and violence that will be electronically sent to television sets. If they fail to do so, the FCC could draft ratings. Thanks to this law, the v-chip offers parents a "silicon insurance policy," a guarantee that, no matter where they are, they can exercise control over what their kids are watching at home and protect them from television's increasingly harmful messages.
On a related matter, Dr. Bill Bennett, former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia, and I focused attention on one of the worst parts of America's entertainment culture -- the daytime television talk shows. After watching a number of these shows and learning more about the behavior of their hosts and producers, it is clear that talk is indeed cheap -- and, too often, demeaning, exploitative, perverted, divisive, or, at best, amoral.
Why should we be so concerned about the content of these shows? One of the most compelling reasons is that millions of children and young teens are watching trashy talk TV on a daily basis. In fact, according to one report, children aged 2 to 11 comprise six percent of the national viewing audience for talk shows, which translates to 650,000 kids alone regularly watching "Ricki Lake."
There is no real scientific evidence available yet documenting the impact these shows have on young viewers. But a number of psychologists, child development specialists, and media experts have voiced serious concern about the dangers posed by these shows. The constant confrontations and emotional violence children see on talk shows teach them a perverse way to solve personal problems and suggests to them that is the way normal adults behave. Also, because of the powerful appeal of the sexual messages being sent to young viewers, these shows have enormous potential to act as the worst kind of sex educators.
We are not calling for government censorship, simply better citizenship. We want to remind the producers of these talk shows that they are members of a larger community, to which they have certain obligations. We also want to remind them that, because of their stature and power, the decisions they make carry weight. They can and should do better, and that is our appeal.
I have also played an active role in efforts to convince Time Warner to stop producing degrading "gangsta" rap and other offensive music. Unfortunately, these lyrics often expose our children to profanity, graphic violence, and sexual encounters.
I joined with Dr. Bennett and civil rights activist C. Delores Tucker in producing a 60-second radio ad criticizing Time Warner for its lack of responsibility in distributing music that celebrates violence and debases women.
Time Warner, and the entire entertainment industry, need to listen to the parents I talk to when I am home in Connecticut who are outraged by the growing level of garbage that's being thrown at their children across a multitude of media, from cop-killing music to blood-spewing video games to sleaze-ridden talk shows. The industry also needs to understand the feelings of disgust and frustration that are spreading across America, a sense that our entertainment produces reject rather than reflect the values shared by most families in this country.
I also have led efforts in Congress to convince the makers of video games to create a rating system for video games. Video games are among the most popular toys for children. Yet, the latest technology now enables video games to depict violence with unprecedented realism. Some games use actual actors and actresses in stories which are essentially interactive movies. One such game involves several young women being attacked by hooded men who attempt to murder their victims. Such games are clearly inappropriate for young children. However, without a rating system, there is no way for parents and others to know which games are inappropriate for children. Some video game manufacturers attempted to adopt their own rating systems, but there was no credible system to ensure that existing rating systems are independent of marketing pressures within a video game company and that the ratings are enforced in the marketplace. Thus, I called upon the video game industry to recognize their responsibility to inform the public and to create a uniform, credible rating system.
Since that hearing, an industry task force has formed to offer a voluntary industry approach. I also held a follow-up hearing in order to gauge the industry's progress. Although there is still a long way to go, I am pleased with the progress the video game and retail industries are making to implement an effective system. I am hopeful that the industry effort will negate the need for legislative action.
I applaud the industry for its commitment and believe that a voluntary industry response is more preferable to government action. I will be closely examining the industry's suggested system to ensure that it will provide the public with the information needed to make informed decisions.
As both a parent and an elected official, please be assured that I will continue to speak out against the entertainment industry when I believe their conduct is unacceptable.
Home | Get Involved | Biography | Contact Us | Events
Issues | Links | Voter Info | News | Search
Authorized and Paid For by the Lieberman 2000 Committee
36 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105
phone: 860.723.8980/ fax: 860.723.8983
www.lieberman2000.com