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Records of the First Lady's Office (Clinton Administration)
Melanne Verveer's Subject Files
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violence
-
THE NEW YORK TIMES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1996
Progress has been slow. With Con-
A Plan to Put
gress unwilling to increase the annu-
al Federal payment the District re-
ceives in lieu of taxes, Mr. Barry and
Washington
the control board remain uneasy
partners in efforts to cut spending
and the size of government. And
In Maryland
while they now haggle over $150 mil-
lion in spending cuts for the 1996
fiscal year, which began last Octo-
ber, streets in full view of the White
Group Is Proposing
House remain covered with snow
more than three days after the last
Return of the Land
storm.
In recent years, a variety of solu-
tions have been proposed to lift
Washington out of its economic dol-
By MICHAEL JANOFSKY
drums, but none has generated much
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 - Frus-
support. They have included grant-
trated by the District of Columbia's
ing statehood, which Congress op-
fiscal crisis and the city's lack of
poses; returning the city govern-
representation in Congress, a new
ment to Congressional control, which
citizens group has begun a campaign
local elected leaders oppose, and tax-
to give most of Washington back to
ing commuters, which members of
Maryland.
the Maryland and Virginia Congres-
Under a plan that preserves the
sional delegations say they will not
Capitol, the Mall and the White
allow.
House as a Federal enclave, Mary-
But Mr. Mirel said none of those
land would get back the 70 square
initiatives would solve the city's two
miles it donated for a national capi-
most pressing needs - lifting the
tal in 1791. Virginia had provided an
local economy and giving local resi-
additional 40 square miles but re-
dents voting representation in Con-
claimed the land in 1846.
gress. Currently, the District has one
"We're not saying it's the only
nonvoting member of the House.
solution," said Lawrence Mirel, a
Mr. Mirel said that for Maryland,
lawyer who was elected last month
the economic benefits of retrocession
as president of the Committee for the
would be enormous, raising the
Capital, a 30-member group promot-
state's population to 5.5 million, or to
ing retrocession. "But any plan de-
15th place from 19th, according to
vised for the District must be eco-
1992 Census data, and creating a
nomically viable and provide full and
strong Baltimore-Washington mar-
equal democratic rights. Ours is the
ket that could compete more effec-
only alternative that does."
tively with Pennsylvania for new
For now, the idea has no known
businesses.
support beyond a suggestion by
The political advantage for Dis-
Speaker Newt Gingrich last year
trict residents would be full repre-
that District residents be allowed to
sentation in Congress, where Mary-
vote in Maryland, a generous offer
land has eight representatives.
given the likelihood that Washing-
Mr. Mirel, a 35-year resident of the
ton's population of 554,000 would give
city, acknowledged that gathering
Maryland one more representative
support for retrocession will be diffi-
in the House, probably a Democrat.
cult. But he predicted that within a
In Washington, the ratio of regis-
year or so, more people will view it
tered Democrats to Republicans is
as the logical way to proceed.
more than 10 to 1.
"Eleanor Holmes Norton told me
"I can't remember even a ripple of
I'm dreaming," Mr. Mirel said of the
interest any time the idea has been
District's delegate in Congress. "And
raised," said John Allem, a spokes-
none of the elected leaders in Mary-
man for Mayor Marion S. Barry Jr.
land have endorsed or embraced the
Dianna Rosborough, a spokes-
idea. But fairly soon, I think, people
woman for Gov. Parris N. Glenden-
will begin to realize this is it. This is
ing of Maryland, said Mr. Glenden-
the only answer."
ing would not consider retrocession
until "a serious discussion of the
issues" made clear what it would
mean for the state.
Other points of view
District residents who once pined
on the Op-Ed page
for statehood, now virtually a lost
seven days a week.
cause with a Republican-controlled
The New York Times
Congress, view retrocession as "ulti-
mate defeatism," as Mark Plotkin, a
local political commentator and
statehood supporter put it. "Sure,
these are rough times," Mr. Plotkin
said, "but this is a throw-in-the-towel
group."
Still, something has to change, Mr.
Mirel insisted, pointing to a local
economic tailspin that has led to a
decline in services, a shrinking tax
base, a steady exodus of middle-class
residents to the suburbs, hundreds of
millions of dollars in overspending
by the city government and, finally, a
financial control board, which Con-
gress created last year to restore
order.
A New Report Becomes a Weapon
In Debate on Censoring TV Violence
Echoing Mr. Markey, Reed Hundt,
By BILL CARTER
the chairman of the Federal Commu-
point-by-point summation of what
nications Commission, said: "This
went on in each show because it was
A new report suggesting that violence
report tells us the debate is over.
the context that was important.
pervades television entertainment shows is
There is no question now that televi-
For example, she said, much em-
sion is too violent."
shaping as a central point of confrontation
phasis was placed on whether "a
But broadcasters, none of whom
in a political battle between advocates of
perpetrator was punished" for an act
are thought to have been given cop-
the V-chip - a device that can block trans-
of violence. The study found that in
ies of the report so far, questioned
mission of violent programs into homes
73. percent of the cases, characters
how the group could possibly have
who committed violent acts were not
and the broadcast networks, which ada-
found levels of violence as high as it
mantly oppose enforced censorship of their
punished in the same scene.
did.
By the end of the typical program,
programs.
"This thing looks ridiculous on the
"This report means that broadcasters
62 percent of the "bad characters"
face of it," said Richard Cotton,
had been punished, the report found,
now have in their hands a working docu-
NBC's senior vice president and gen-
but only 15 percent of the "good
ment that can serve as a basis for creating a
eral counsel. "They're saying there
characters" were punished.
ratings system for television shows," said
is violence in about a quarter of the
Asked why good characters should
Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, one
shows on PBS. And they say that 44
be punished, Ms. Wilson said that if
of the leading proponents of the V-chip. The
per cent of broadcast shows contain
violence. Nowhere near 44 percent of
they did not show concern or re-
chip would allow parents to prevent a televi-
morse about being involved in vio-
sion program from being seen in their
our programs are dramas. What
THE NEW YORK TIMES:
kind of shows are they counting?"
lence, that would count as almost the
homes if a rating system determined that it
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1996
had a high level of violent or sexually ex-
The study offers no specific exam-
same thing. She agreed that punish-
ples of what constitutes violence in a
ing characters in the same scene in
plicit content.
specific show. Instead it lists a grid
which they committed violence
The V-chip is a contentious part of the new
Tele-Communications Act, which was ap-
of the shows that were monitored:
might impede storytelling, but she
2,693 separate programs, as seen on
said that unless this was included,
23 different channels in the course of
young children and people switching
proved by Congress last week and is sched-
a composite week of viewing. The
channels by remote control would
tiled to be signed into law tomorrow by
shows were broadcast between 6
not necessarily see the violence pun-
President Clinton.
A.M. and 11 P.M.
ished at the end of a story.
The report, which labels itself "the most
Groups of coders, selected from
The report is expected to drive a
comprehensive scientific assessment of
the volunteer undergraduates at two
further wedge between the broad-
television violence ever conducted," was
of the participating universities,
cast and cable sectors of the televi-
due to be released officially today by a
were asked to watch the shows and
sion industry. Mr. Hundt praised the
group called the National Television Vio-
decide what was a violent act based
cable industry for financing a study
lence Study. A broad coalition of research-
on the following definition: "Any
"that is critical of their own indus-
ers, media executives and mental health
overt depiction of the use of physical
try," adding, "It's clear now that
experts from several universities, including
force or the credible threat of such
broadcasters should do the same
the University of Texas, the University of
North Carolina and the University of Cali-
force intended to physically harm an
fornia at Santa Barbara, took part in the
animate being or group of beings.".
thing."
study, which was assembled by Mediascope,
Barbara Wilson, a professor of
The broadcasters had commis-
a nonprofit organization hired by the Na-
communication at the University of
sioned their own study of television
California at Santa Barbara, said the
violence. It was conducted by the
study was intended to answer com-
University of California at Los Ange-
tional Cable Television Association last
plaints about previous academic ex-
les, whose conclusions, issued in Sep-
year.
aminations of violence on television
tember, found some "promising
Details of the report, which concludes that
where all incidents, whether comedic
signs" about how the networks were
"violence predominates on television, often
violence or acts of nature, were con-
reducing violence.
including large numbers of violent interac-
sidered equally.
But Mr. Cotton of NBC conceded
tions per program," were published yester-
"We made an effort to identify the
that the cable industry's study was
day in The Washington Post and other news-
contextual features of every act,"
likely to become a hammer that
papers. The report, which relied on informa-
Ms. Wilson said. "Each act had to fit
backers of the V-chip will use on the
tion in previously published studies on the
into the definition, so a doctor per-
networks. "The truth is that short-
effects of televised violence, also concludes
forming a life-saving operation
term, this is going to inflame the
that viewers, especially children, are "at
would not count. And I doubt a food
situation," he said.
risk" when they watch shows in which vio-
fight in a comedy would count be-
The broadcasters have been plan-
lence goes unpunished or the consequences
cause there would be no intent to
ning to challenge the-V-chip in court
of violence are not depicted.
harm."
as an unconstitutional infringement
Overall, the study finds that premium
If Wile E. Coyote is injured falling
on the First Amendment right of free
cable channels like HBo and Showtime are
thousands of feet from a cliff in a
speech. But the supporters of the new
the most violent, with 85 percent of their
Roadrunner cartoon, it probably
study say the networks are now
programming including some violence, fol-
would count, she said, because there
more vulnerable than ever on the
lowed by basic cable channels with 59 per-
was intent to harm.
issue of violence.
cent, and independent television shows with
Ms. Wilson said the report accept-
"The broadcasters don't want to
55 percent. Broadcast television has the
ed previous research concluding
go to court to stop the V-chip because
lowest violence level 44 percent ac-
that children imitate the violence
of the First Amendment," Mr. Mar-
cording to the study.
they see on television, a point that
key said. "They want to go to court
Underscoring the study's importance in
broadcasters have rejected as un-
because they're afraid it'll hurt ad-
proven.
vertising revenue. They're less con-
Continued on Page C16
Network executives complained
cerned about how violence affects
yesterday that the study could not be
children than about how the V-chip
considered valid unless it specified
will affect their business. Now that
Continued From Page C11
what happened in each show, to clas-
Della Street and Perry Mason have
sify it as violent. But Ms. Wilson said
presented this sweeping report,
the political debate about television
the researchers would not get into a
they'll still go to court. But they will
lose."
violence, one of the project's chief
researchers, Edward Donnerstein of
the University of California at Santa
Barbara, held a meeting yesterday
with Mr. Markey to brief him on the
conclusions.
Mr. Markey said the timing of the
report was ideal. "Coming just after
the Telecommunications Bill was
passed and just before the President
signs it, this is like Della Street rush-
ing into the courtroom and telling
Perry Mason, 'I have the conclusive
evidence.' he said.
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
NATIONAL ELEVISION
VIOLENCE STUD
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I
9
9
4
-
9
9
5
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
He
University of Texas, Austin
University of Wisconsin, Madison
M I A S c o P E, INC.
file
TV
violence
Melanne:
Attached are the memo we did for the VP on Haim Saban and the Power Rangers for the 2/29
media executives meeting and Saban's letter to the VP after the meeting. Greg wanted to be sure
you noted that he disputes the facts of some of what the VP said at the meeting.
Greg also wanted me to send you a copy of the VP's remarks Monday at a conference held by the
Annenberg School on children's television. They are forming an Advisory Council on
Excellence in Children's Television (NYTimes article also attached); he thinks the First Lady
might want also to highlight this sort of positive step.
He will call you as soon as he gets back to the office.
Kristen
FEBRUARY 28, 1996
MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
FROM:
GREG SIMON
SUBJECT: MEETING ATTENDEE HAIM SABAN
As you may know, Mr. Haim Saban, CEO of Saban Entertainment and producer of the
"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and "The X-Men" will attend the media executives
meeting.
The Power Rangers airs in 145 markets and attracts more kids than most other animated
programs or sitcoms. Last year more than $1 billion in licensed Power Rangers
merchandise was sold.
Two reports in the last three years have shown that The Power Rangers and The X-Men
are among the most violent programs on television for children. Both reports took into
account the context and the purpose of the violence. The reports indicated that his shows
use violence as the central theme to the plot and that options other than fighting are rarely
used.
You should take a strong line on Mr. Saban. Since he was so persistent in his efforts to
attend this meeting he should be made to explain why his multi-billion dollar company
producers some of the most violent children's programs on television today and what he
is personally planning to do to cut the violent content from his programs.
If he says that they already air segments at the end of each program to tell kids not to use
violence you can remind him that the children have just spent the entire rest of the show
listening to how cool it is to be violent and that violence is the only way to resolve
conflict and that violence has no consequences.
Attached are some quotes from newspapers regarding the two reports and quotes from Mr.
Saban and others at the FOX Network which airs his shows.
HAIM SABAN - SABAN ENTERTAINMENT
Haim Saban, owner of Saban Entertainment produces "The X-Men" and "The Mighty
Morphin Power Rangers" shows for television. Two studies of children's TV in the last
three years have shown that these shows are among the most violent programs on
television for children. Both reports took into account the context and the purpose of the
violence and still found his shows to be at the top of the worst offenders of TV violence.
In children's programming, what the [recently released UCLA] report calls 'sinister
combat violence" showed up repeatedly in such programs as "The X-Men," "Teen-age
Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers." The report counted
not just violent incidents, but the context in which they were displayed. Hence, the
violence cited was, sadly, often central to the programs' basic themes, rather than
incidental. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 7, 1995)
These shows are about fighting," the report says. "Rarely are options other than fighting
considered in these shows and the heroes are always eager to engage in combat.
These are the shows that, by far, raise the largest number of concerns about violence."
(The San Diego Union-Tribune September 25, 1995)
" ..sinister combat violence," where fighting is the main purpose of the program and the
plot only gives justification for the combat. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch September 21,
1995)
"TV Violence Report Card,". the survey, released by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.)
"X-Men" on Fox topped the list of the most violent cartoon shows, with 129 acts of
violence per hour, followed closely by CBS's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," with 123.
(Chicago Tribune December 19, 1993)
The television show [Power Rangers] has been cited by anti-violence crusaders as an
example of how TV keeps punching up kids' entertainment with violence to give it more
impact. Last October the largest privately owned children's entertainment network in
Sweden dropped the show - which the network also aired in Norway and Denmark -
after the death of a 5-year-old Norwegian girl at the hands of a playmate. The kids were
heavily into Power Rangers and their karate-kicking style. (The San Francisco Chronicle,
January 15, 1995)
CJOH-TV in Ottawa announced it is cutting "X-Men" this month from its Saturday
morning lineup. "We will not air this show because it no longer fits in with the new
code. The characters are lifelike and express themselves through graphic violence," said
CJOH station manager Al Mackay. (The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, January 8,
1994),
SABAN & CO. RESPONSE
to Cheryl Saban, a "Power Rangers" writer who just happens to be married to Saban
Entertainment boss Haim Saban, that's not violence, it's "physicality." (Chicago
Sun-Times, December 20, 1993)
'It is a truly uplifting show, full of action and physicality," Saban says in a press release.
' Power Rangers' is not preachy, but it does have a subtle moral fiber that children can
embrace. ( Chicago Sun-Times, December 20, 1993)
"There's no reason all children's television should be as soft as Disney," says Saban,
"Kids have a sense of humor." (USA TODAY, September 26, 1994)
Saban International, which produces "X-Men," said the show itself isn't to blame for its
cancellation. [at CJOH in Canada] "It was a self-initiated decision to remove the show,"
said Saban spokesman Jeff Pryor. "We consider 'X-Men' to be action-packed and do not
believe there is any violence in the show." (The Atlanta Journal and Constitution,
January 8, 1994)
Margaret Loesch, the president of Fox Kids' Network, acknowledges that "Power
Rangers," "X-Men" and "Batman" are violent. But she claims it's "balanced" by softer
kids' shows, like "Bobby's World" (The Sun (Baltimore) January 23, 1994)
Hoffman defended "X-Men," saying it's reviewed by a panel of child psychologists,
psychiatrists and educators. (Chicago Tribune December 19, 1993)
"It's a multibillion-dollar business over the next five years," says Saban, who hopes to use
the success of "Power Rangers" as a springboard to new business opportunities in
television, movies, video games, live touring and even theme parks.
"We control all the streams of revenue," Saban says ."The master toy license is one
stream, video games is the second, home video another.
The ratings are the most
visible, but they are just a piece of the puzzle."
In recent years, Saban has expanded into made-for-TV movies. Next up: a movie on the
Menendez brothers for Fox. "Everything that has to do with family entertainment we will
be in," Saban says. (Los Angeles Times, March 11, 1994)
The message, Singer said, 'is you fight with your enemies. There's no trying to negotiate.
You just get rid of them." Montgomery called that a mixed message. "On the one hand
you have the pro-social messages -- be good citizens and get along - and yet it resolves
all conflict with a fight," she said. "It's very conflicted, and it's almost as if these
so-called action shows have incorporated pro-social moments to justify the violence."
(Los Angeles Times February 26, 1994)
Researchers at California State University-Fullerton found that children who were shown
a Power Rangers episode responded by shoving and kicking their playmates with the same
techniques that the Rangers used to fight off their foes. "One of the scary things about
violence in the media is it gives children new ideas about how to be aggressive and be
violent," Cal-Fullerton assistant professor Chris Boyatzis told The Los Angeles Times.
(The Dallas Morning News, September 7, 1994)
Finally, there is one last insult to the intelligence of children. Each show concludes with
the Power Rangers, back in their human guise, self-righteously lecturing little kids on how
to avoid conflict. This comes, of course, after 20 minutes of showing kids that fighting
is cool and effective. ( Chicago Sun-Times, December 20, 1993)
The "Power Rangers" teach that:
The best way to resolve any conflict is through violence. The Power Rangers
don't start fights, but they do respond to every threat with kicks, punches and
explosions. In each show, the Power Rangers make the world a better place
through violence.
The more powerful your weapon, the more powerful you are. The show's formula
is a predictable escalation of violence, from kick-boxing to missiles.
Violence is without pain, consequences or remorse. The good guys -- the Power
Rangers themselves -- never suffer the effects of violence. They are zapped,
pummeled and fired upon, only to pop up and fight again. Even the bad guys get
painlessly blasted away. If anyone suffers, it's only the kids who watch. (Chicago
Sun-Times, December 20, 1993)
SABAN
March 28, 1996
- where was this ?!
The Honorable Al Gore, Jr.
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Vice President,
First of all, I would like to thank you and President Clinton for inviting me and my
peers to the White House to discuss the planned television ratings system. While I
believe the implementation of the system will be challenging for the industry, as a
father of two young children, I support measures which help me to guide their
recreational activities.
During the closed door session in Washington, you made two inaccurate
statements regarding the "Power Rangers" which troubled me but which I chose
not to address with you in that forum. However, I would now like to set the record
straight. As you know, "Power Rangers" is the biggest phenomena in the entire
history of kids' television and, as such, has attracted more than its share of both
criticism and kudos. However, because the series became such an "event", certain
myths have developed. Unfortunately, myths, if oft repeated, can become facts if
not challenged.
One of these myths is that "Power Rangers" was taken off the air by its
broadcaster (Global) in Canada due to violence issues. This is simply not the case.
The show was edited slightly (less than 30 seconds per episode) and remained on
the air for another year. Another myth is that "Power Rangers" was removed from
the air in Scandinavia because a group of young boys killed a six year old girl.
The show was pulled for one week and was immediately brought back when the
official investigation determined that the boys involved had never even seen
"Power Rangers".
My defense of the series with respect to these false stories notwithstanding, the
series has received some legitimate criticism. Even though we have received far
more positive than negative mail from parents, we take the negative comments to
heart and many changes have been incorporated into the show in response to this
criticism. As the father of a seven year old boy and a five year old girl, I pay close
attention to what my children watch on television. As the world's largest supplier
SABAN ENTERTAINMENT, INC 10960 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024 Tel: (310) 235 5100 Fax (310) 235 5102
Copyright 1996 The New York Times Company
The New York Times
June 18, 1996, Tuesday, Late Edition - Final
SECTION: Section C; Page 15; Column 5; Cultural Desk
LENGTH: 901 words
HEADLINE: Nudging TV On New Rule For Children
BYLINE: By LAWRIE MIFFLIN
BODY:
While the Federal Communications Commission is busy writing a new rule this
week to require television stations to broadcast three hours a week of
educational programs for children, momentum is gathering to help broadcasters
comply.
Of course, "help" is not the verb most broadcasters and network executives
would choose to label this movement. "Pressure" would be their choice.
Several media research organizations completed studies this month showing
the benefits to children of educational television and the demand for it from
parents, as well as citing scholars' arguments for ratings codes to identify not
only violent or sexually explicit programs parents might want to avoid but also
educational or informational programs parents might want to embrace. And
President Clinton invited network executives to a White House conference next
month on improving children's television.
Yesterday at a meeting in Washington, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, dean of the
Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, who is
best known as an expert in politics and television, announced that the
Annenberg Public Policy Center had created an advisory panel to "assess the
quality of programs submitted to the F.C.C. by stations seeking license
renewal."
The nine-member panel, called the Advisory Council on Excellence in
Children's Television, includes the educators James P. Comer and Charles J.
Ogletree, as well as the author Jonathan Kozol and the documentary film maker
Ken Burns. All have agreed to serve for three years. "I'm delighted there'll be
private-sector groups evaluating and publicizing the efforts of children's
television producers," Commissioner Susan Ness of the F.C.C., who spoke at the
Annenberg conference, said in a telephone interview afterward. "Government
shouldn't be doing that. This will be a wonderful tool a community can use to
rally in support of, or rally to correct, the choices their local broadcasters
are making."
If the Annenberg panel succeeds, advocates say, its approval could become
something akin to the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval." But some fear it
could also become something akin to academic censorship.
"It's not too different from the old days when the Catholic Legion of Decency
rated movies, is it?" said Rick Siggelkow, co-producer, with Britt Allcroft, of
the PBS show "Shining Time Station" and now vice president of the children's
division of BBC Worldwide Americas.
Mr. Siggelkow said that the panel's value would lie in its independence, but
that he also thought it should include representatives of the industry.
"These people have sterling credentials," he said. "But what's glaringly
absent is any children's television producers, the people who have to raise the
money, come up with the concepts and actually make the shows. Certainly, Ken
Burns is a wonderful producer and knows what producers have to go through, but
his programs are very far removed from the children's arena."
Many broadcasters argue that the advocates for more educational programming
for children do not understand how difficult and expensive it is to make. They
also complain that children don't watch educational programs. If a program draws
paltry ratings, and therefore low advertising fees, they argue, it is a
liability to them and of little service to the public.
At the Annenberg conference yesterday, Victoria Rideout, director of the
Children and the Media division of the California-based advocacy group called
Children Now, led a panel discussion in which advertisers talked about this
quandary. She said studies released by the Annenberg Center yesterday showed
that the higher-quality children's programs were usually scheduled in the
least-watched time periods, creating a sort of Catch-22.
"How can we get networks and advertisers to give the high-quality programs a
fighting chance?" she said by telephone from Washington. "On the panel I led,
some advertising folks talked about forming a collaborative effort, where major
advertisers and producers together would help produce some kids' programming,
then take it to networks with some advertising support already there."
Federal law requires television stations, as a condition for license renewal,
to broadcast some educational and informational programs for children. The law,
the Children's Television Act of 1990, does not specify how much, but empowers
the F.C.C. to decide that.
Many broadcasters object to a weekly three-hour minimum as a Government
intrusion on their First Amendment right to broadcast as they see fit, according
to their own community's viewing wishes.
Other broadcasters, particularly those who believe their stations already
serve children well, argue that it is more practical -- and perhaps even more
First Amendment-friendly to know in advance what's expected at license
renewal time, rather than to have vague guidelines subject to interpretation by
whatever five F.C.C. commissioners happen to be in place at renewal time.
Until last week, Commissioner James Quello, a conservative Democrat, and
Commissioner Rachelle Chong, a Republican, had held firm against any numerical
standard being adopted. But Mr. Quello dropped his opposition, saying more than
half the broadcasters he had spoken to preferred firm guidelines. That left only
Ms. Chong opposed. So a three-hour guideline is being written this week.
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
LOAD-DATE: June 18, 1996
Prepared remarks
Vice President AI Gore
National Press Club
Press Conference on Children and Television
Washington, DC
June 17, 1996
Good morning. About a year ago, my wife Tipper and I invited dozens of scholars,
television programmers, and educators to Nashville, Tennessee, for a conference on the
American family and the American media. Among the people who came to Nashville for
those sessions was Kathleen Hall Jamieson, one of the country's most thoughtful analysts of
the role of mass media in American life. In Nashville -- and in all the years I've known her
-- she has taught me a great deal about how the media shape American politics and
influence our children's lives.
That's why I was delighted when Kathleen and the Annenberg Public Policy Center
took on this project. The Advisory Council on Excellence in Children's Television -- which
begins its work today -- will establish private sector guidelines for what constitutes
educational programming for children.
This blue-ribbon commission is the most recent sign that the movement for quality
children's television has begun to pick up steam. For two decades now, my wife Tipper
has been working to make sure parents know what's in the music their children listen to
and what's on the television they watch.
And President Clinton and 1 have long supported giving parents the tools to make
television a positive influence in their children's lives -- tools to help them welcome in the
terrific and to keep out the trash.
For example, earlier this year President Clinton successfully advocated for the V-
chip, a new device parents can use to keep their living rooms family-friendly. And he
helped persuade the nation's television broadcasters and producers to establish a voluntary
ratings system to inform parents about the content of shows their children might be
turning on.
Those were important strides. But along with giving parents the tools to choose,
we've been equally concerned about making sure our parents have something to choose.
The V-chip and the voluntary ratings system are necessary, extremely necessary. But they
are not sufficient. American families also need more programming and better
programming.
So President Clinton has been working hard to increase both the quantity and
quality of educational television. For example, FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, Congressman
Ed Markey, children's advocate Peggy Charren and I -- along with many others -- have
been working to establish a minimum requirement for television broadcasters: three hours
a week of educational programming. Three hours a week is fair. It's simple. And it leaves
98 percent of broadcasting time available for other programs.
Three hours a week for our children is not too much to ask. And this week, the
three-hour requirement that we've been pursuing for so long may become a reality. And
that decision -- coupled with the blue-ribbon commission that's beginning work today --
could make this week the best week for children's television in a generation. By the end of
this week, we will have begun to change the face of children's television.
The Annenberg Advisory Commission on Excellence in Children's Television is also
an important step not simply in terms of what we're achieving, but how we're achieving it.
We're improving television not by government fiat, but by the studied opinion of some of
the nation's most pre-eminent private citizens, women and men committed to improving
the quality of kids TV.
This technique -- "educate and inform" rather than "command and control" -- is
also alive in a proposal PBS President Ervin Duggan made about two weeks ago. To
further empower parents to make good choices for their kids, President Duggan proposed
fixing an icon in the bottom corner of the television screen during shows that meet strict
standards for quality educational programming. This way, as with food labels, parents will
know whether they're choosing a healthy televised meal or simply another helping of a
high-fat video junk food. It's a great idea.
So is the announcement President Clinton made last week to invite television leaders
to meet at the White House for a summit on educational television. Once again, with the
leadership and knowledge of the industry itself, we'll work to give parents additional
guidance for making television a positive influence in their children's lives.
With the buzz of activity occurring in only the last few weeks and months -- the V-
chip, the voluntary ratings system, the three-hour a week educational television
requirement, the PBS icon, and today's announcement I believe we're ushering in a new
era of high-quality educational programming for American children. The momentum
we've unleashed may prove unstoppable.
I predict that a year from now, television networks will be fighting each other to win
the Annenberg Advisory Commission's seal of approval, and to carn one of those PBS
educational icons.
I predict that a year from now, television producers will be turning out more
?
educational programming and better educational programming -- and that vast numbers of
talented producers, directors, actors, and writers will seize this creative challenge.
And I predict that a year from now, our nation will have moved ever closer to the
goal President Clinton has been pursuing since he first came to office and others have
sought still longer: television that's as good as our children, television that educates our
young people and lifts up their lives.
Now I will leave you in the good hands of Kathleen Hall Jamieson, who will answer
any questions.
N.Y.
DAILY NEWS
Thursday, August 11, 1994
file To violence Kars
PINIONS
TV violence can
make you - violent!
M
y TV was set at
and say that Ardythe Goer-
Channel 2 when I
gens, Bernadette Caulfield
turned it on on
and Michael Switzer are
Tuesday night and caught
monsters. And that net-
a rerun of the actor Rich-
work honchos such as CBS'
ard Thomas stalking a cor-
Howard Stringer and the
porate office building, an
recently departed Jeffrey
arsenal of assault weap-
Sagansky should be reviled
ons on his back.
like tobacco executives
I'm not unduly squeam-
wherever they go.
ish about screen violence.
They should have smoke
I watch it willingly in doc-
blown in their faces at
umentaries or newscasts.
JIM
cocktail parties because
I love it in Shakespeare
SLEEPER
they're liars who spread
and other dramas that
death. Out of one side of
draw us into unflinching moral engage-
their mouths, they tell advertisers that the
ment with our condition. But I do tend to
more they repeat a message, the more it
flick the remote whenever music and
will influence behavior. Out of the other
body language tell me I'm about to see
side of their mouths, they piously tell con-
bloodshed for Nielsens.
gressional committees and activists that
On Tuesday, though, I watched "I Can
repetitive TV violence - 15 violent acts
Make You Love Me: The Stalking of Lau-
per prime-time hour on each network,
ra Black" for 15 minutes with a clammy
says a recent study - has no discernible
revulsion as Thomas coolly blew away a
influence on behavior. That's like tobacco
dozen people who looked like those I
shills claiming there's no link between
work with every day - people at the wa-
smoking and cancer.
ter cooler, on the phone. He slew them
Another thing they tell us is that they're
across what, for TV, is a long time, may-
only providing what the public wants. But
be five minutes. Bloody, writhing bodies
I'm sure the public wants network execs
everywhere. No expense spared by co-
to stand outside Black Rock and Rockefel-
producers Ardythe Goergens and Berna-
ler Center handing out hundred-dollar
dette Caulfield.-
bills. It isn't only what the public wants
In the scenes I watched before chang-
that drives network execs. They do make
ing channels, Brooke Shields (Laura)
decisions. And they've decided to offer
begs Thomas not to shoot; flies across
whatever the public wants that makes
the room, spurting blood, as he does, and
money for them and their shareholders,
crawls, weeping, to colleagues after
even if it means titillating the worst in
Thomas has sauntered off to kill others.
people, playing on insecurity and fear.
Later, seeing that she's gotten away,
How sad. How cruel. All that fine educa-
Thomas stalks some more. "Laura,
tion and corporate power, and still the dif-
where are you?" he calls. Director Mi-
ference between leadership and used-car
chael Switzer has managed to prolong
selling is lost on the wunderkinds in these
the mayhem.
suites. Blood spurts out of their mouths. It
sloshes about in their shoes. It lies like a
C
LEARLY, THE PSYCHOPATHIC
film across their offices, newsrooms, pub-
eruption. bloodshed and suffering
lic-service programs.
- based on a true story, of course
For me, Tuesday night was a watershed
are the film's only reason for being. Vari-
- or a bloodshed. Sign me up for the long
ety says it combines "woman-in-jeopardy
march. The Center for Media Literacy, at
and mass-killer genres into a predictable
(212) 870-2282, sends a brochure on how to
and often gruesome concoction that has
see through and organize against bad me-
little to offer other than gratuitous vio-
dia programs and priorîties.
lence." This isn't drama; it's the gladiator
One other thing might change the cli-
pits of a falling Rome. Since we can't seem
mate at TV Central: A visit from a stalker.
to stop it, we have to wonder whether, as
Just imagine a vice president staggering
Cicero said of Rome, we are too ill to bear
across his office, holding his guts in his
either our sicknesses or our cures.
hands, trying to phone his wife and kids.
I don't believe the cure is censorship or
Blood streaming down the faces of secre-
government regulation. The cure is col-
taries and technicians as they stampede
lective withdrawal from a national addic-
toward the elevators.
tion like the one we're undergoing over
Hey, I'm against violence. And it's only a
cigarets.
fantasy, right? I can't imagine what
For starters. we can clear our throats
prompted it.
by Ellen Rosenberg
file To Violance this
From Barney to Super Nintendo:
What to do
when your child wants it all
"A lot of 1111 kids who
W
hether it's Barney sandals, Ninja
colder weather. These are needs.
Turtle knapsacks, Nintendo
On the other hand, if your children
want things so badly and
games, or simply "the perfect" pair of
want four pairs of shoes-one to match
sneakers-do your children ever say,
each different colored outfit-those are
can't afford them
we
"Come on Mom (or Dad). Everyone else
wants. I'm not suggesting that it's not
need 10 help them-and
has it, and I'll be the only one without
okay to purchase such wants. That's a
it!"?
personal choice that is rightfully up to
everyone else-
Your children's "wants" may also in-
each parent to decide, based upon sense
clude later curfews ("No one else has
understand that things'
of values, financial circumstances and
to come in so early!") or more privileges
whatever else a parent might feel im-
are not what make a
("I'm the only one who can't ride my
portant to take into consideration.
bike to the store!") or expanded hori-
I am suggesting that we make the ef-
person. Kids are shooting
zons ("Everyone thinks I'm such a loser.
fort to teach children the difference
people for sports
I'm the only one who can't see that
between a necessity and what might
movie!"). The list can go on and on.
more appropriately be considered a
jackets
We need to deal
With constant bombardment from the
luxury. Doing so can help lay a founda-
media of attractive things to own, it's
tion for greater appreciation of what you
with our values and
no wonder that children "want." And
actually do choose to buy for your child.
morals.
with pressure from peers, children of-
In my Growing Up Feeling Good pro-
ten end up perceiving their wants as
grams, I invited parents and children
-A parent of two children
needs they can't do without.
who attend to share their feelings and
It's probably fair to say that it's natu-
experiences with me by writing them
ral for kids to want these things and
down on "sharing cards." In one such
would be more surprising if they didn't.
program, a parent, B.P., shared the fol-
The key issue is how they deal with and
lowing:
feel about those wants-and what we
"When I buy my daughters things that
do in response to them.
are really not necessary, like the under-
wear that has to match the bra, they
Distinguishing between
have to understand that they are privi-
wants and needs
leged. They have to be made aware that
they are getting something special. They
t's vital that we help our children un-
can't take it for granted.
derstand how to distinguish between
"If kids are given more than they need,
wants and needs and be able to put them
it probably will not hurt them as long as
in a balanced perspective. It's also im-
they are made to be aware of how lucky
portant for us to establish boundaries
they are. I just drum that into my kids
and stick to them, despite the fact that
all the time."
children may react by slamming doors
Another parent told me her son asked
and saying "I hate you" or "It's going to
for a jacket that "everyone at school
be your fault if kids leave me out."
had." Because he already had a jacket,
I've learned over the years that what
she told him if he wanted it, he'd have
may seem like "the obvious" to adults is
to buy it with his own money. He ended
exactly what kids need to have rein-
up using his holiday gift money to get it
forced. To help kids learn to differenti-
for himself.
ate their wants from their needs, take
When children earn something for
examples from their own experiences
themselves, they're likely to have a dif-
so they can better understand and re-
ferent sense of appreciation of the value
late more closely to the examples.
of a dollar and a different sense of own-
For example, you might talk about a
ership than when you buy things for
time when their pants no longer fit, their
them.
shoes had holes in them or their coats
A mother, A.H., with two daughters
were too thin to protect them from
shared: "If you can get kids to take part
PTA TODAY, May/June 1994
5
ext ends...
in a program for the homeless, and they
tion for what it might have meant to be
one" has. (Their lesson in this case is
see that people don't even have a place
without shoes.
that they are important with or without
to live, then they appreciate so much
When do you as a parent "give in" to
the sweater. If someone doesn't think
more what they have."
your child's request? This is a judgment
so, it's time to look for a different
call, based upon circumstances and your
friend!)
Fostering respect
sense of your own child. There are times
If you sense a time when your son's
for differences
when children are seriously concerned
or daughter's level of confidence is very
about the need to look just like "every-
low, you may decide that it's worth al-
-
'll never forget the 6th-grade boy at
one else" because in their perception,
lowing the purchase of the sweater that
one of my assembly programs years
that's their ticket to belonging.
"everyone else" has. In such cases, the
ago who wrote on his sharing card that
We need to help our children under-
sweater may make it seem to your child
his family didn't have enough money for
stand that if someone only likes them
that at least on the outside, he or she
shoes. He said that the principal in his
for what they wear, what they look like
appears to fit in with the other kids. Your
school was able to help arrange to get
or what they own-instead of for who
child can then be freer to concentrate
his family shoes and clothing. What is
they are-they need to question
on making friends rather than worrying
still so painful to me is that he also said
whether that's a good friend to have.
about appearance.
that the kids in his school still teased
Children who lack self-confidence,
If you do make this decision, it's es-
him about what he wore.
have a lower sense of self-worth and also
sential that your child be very clear
That boy and his family were in need.
have weak social and communication
about just what that sweater represents.
While the reality is that some children
skills may find it difficult to hold onto
purposely tease to be cruel, my guess is
the perspective that they're worthy be-
Grabbing the teachable moment
that many of the children who teased
cause of who they are on the "inside."
him had no concept of how hurtful their
They might also find it hard to trust that
comments actually were. Most of those
H
ow do you respond when a child
what's really important has nothing to
says, "Why can't I have it? Every-
kids probably had even less apprecia-
do with getting the sweater that "every-
one else does?" When challenged in this
6
PTA TODAY, May/June 1994
way, you might grab this as a terrific
how unfair you think 1 am.
S.M., a parent of two children, shared
teachable moment. Your response to
"However, I feel I owe you more than
this at one of my programs:
"Everyone else is doing it, why can't 1?"
that. I love you very much and am very
"A lot of the kids who want things so
can help reinforce some valuable life
concerned about what I know goes on
badly and can't afford them we need
lessons-about consistency, follow-
later. That's why I'm taking such a hard
to help them-and everyone else-un-
through, fairness, listening, friendship,
line. I'm sorry you're so upset about this,
derstand that 'things' are not what make
peer pressure and loving your child
but I hope, at least, that you do under-
a person. Kids are shooting people for
enoughnot to give in to this kind of pres-
stand where I'm coming from."
sports jackets We need to deal with
sure.
It can also help to listen to your child's
our values and morals."
I'm not suggesting that it's easy or par-
reasoning, let him or her know that no
Boundaries are one of our more im-
ticularly pleasant to have to deal with
decision is carved in stone, and that
portant gifts to our children. Kids may
kids who are disturbed about restric-
there can be reevaluation based upon
not seem to want them, but there are
tions that they may consider unfair,
issues such as trust, maturity, etc. Kids
many children who have told me they
overprotective and even old-fashioned.
usually appreciate it if parents at least
would give up their privileges (and even
But at what price do we give in? What
take each circumstance unto itself, as
prize possessions and big homes) if only
kinds of messages do you imagine our
each might be a bit different.
their parents would care enough to es-
children will take away with them if we
The truth is that your child may never
tablish limits and bother to stick to
do?
quite reach the point of accepting the
them.
You might find it helpful to respond
rules you make or may never be happy
with the following:
about whatever restrictions you choose
"I understand that all of your friends
to establish. (And who said life would
Ellen Rosenberg is an educator, author
are doing this. And I respect their par-
seem fair all the time?)
and parent. She is creator of Growing
ents' right to make that decision for
It's especially important that we, as
Up Feeling Good programs for students,
them. But you're not your friends and
parents, be clear about what our chil-
staff and parents at the elementary and
I'm not your friends' parent I need to
dren need versus what they want.
secondary school levels as well as LIFE
be consistent with my own sense of re-
Sometimes, parents are more affected
101 programs for college and university
sponsibility and my own sense of what
by peer pressure than children are. We
audiences. She is the author of Growing
seems best for you."
need to remember that we are role-mod-
Up Feeling Good (Puffin Books) and Col-
You might add: "It would be much
eling for our kids at all times. We're
lege Life (Penguin Books).
easier to just give in and let you come
teaching all the time, verbally as well as
Copyright © 1994 by Ellen Rosenberg.
in as late as you want. Then I wouldn't
nonverbally, about self-worth, respect
PTAs may reprint this article for use in
have to deal with how upset you are and
for others and values.
parent or educational meetings.
HNS
PTA TODAY, May/June 1994
7