The Soul of the Censor: The FCC Attacks Television Violence

Media Institute Perspectives: First Amendment Analyses of Communication Policy Issues, No. 2, 2004

6 Pages Posted: 8 Sep 2009

See all articles by Laurence H. Winer

Laurence H. Winer

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Date Written: 2004

Abstract

The Federal Communications Commission proceeds to further erode broadcasters’ and our, First Amendment Freedoms. Not content with their newly invigorated inquisition against sexuality - dubbed 'indecency' - on the air, and likely emboldened by the disturbingly tepid protest this crusade has thus far provoked, the commissioners now have launched a campaign against televised violence. To the always unpalatable legend 'Edited for Television' we now truly can add, 'By Your Friends at the FCC.' When the V-chip and its accompanying ratings system were imposed on broadcasters just a few years ago, some in the industry took the approach all too common among business supplicants at the mercy of government regulators: 'It’s not so bad, and anyway we have to go along to get along. Accepting this level of regulation will stave off even more drastic controls.' Some were mollified by a loose promise of a limited congressional moratorium on further action. But the Censor’s raison d’etre is to censor; the Censor cannot be so easily appeased.

Keywords: First Amendment, censorship, television

Suggested Citation

Winer, Laurence H., The Soul of the Censor: The FCC Attacks Television Violence (2004). Media Institute Perspectives: First Amendment Analyses of Communication Policy Issues, No. 2, 2004, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1470226

Laurence H. Winer (Contact Author)

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

Box 877906
Tempe, AZ 85287-7906
United States

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