Source: Broadcast Newsroom
WASHINGTON, April 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Accuracy in Media editor Cliff Kincaid has released the following statement in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s recommendation that Congress regulate violence on some television programs:
“The FCC does not propose to regulate TV violence during newscasts but that is where the real danger lies. NBC’s decision to air the videos, photos and statements of a demented mass killer could inspire copycat murders and more killings. This material, featuring the NBC News logo, was far worse than any broadcast of fake violence on the ‘professional’ wrestling show WWE Smackdown. Keep in mind that the mass murder of 32 people at Virginia Tech was inspired by the Columbine killers, whose murder spree in Colorado was the subject of news coverage, not entertainment programming.
“NBC became the Al-Jazeera of mass murderers and the network of choice for killers in the future. That’s why AIM sought the firing of NBC News President Steve Capus at the GE annual meeting on April 25. He should pay for his grossly irresponsible decision with his job. Parents have a role in protecting their children from TV violence and that goes far beyond changing the channel. Parents have to join with other citizens in putting pressure on the media not to glorify and sensationalize violence.
“The danger in Congress getting involved is that members of the House and Senate, in the current political climate, could use the excuse of regulating TV violence to go after the media for political or other forms of ‘indecent’ speech that may offend them. That is where Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, the primary movers in the Don Imus affair, want to go. We do not need Al Sharpton — or someone like him — as chairman of the FCC.”
Accuracy in Media (AIM) is a non-profit, grassroots citizens’ watchdog of the news media. Founded in 1969 by Reed Irvine, AIM is the oldest press watchdog group in America. For more information, please visit http://www.aim.org.
