Censorship In Television
...the first amendment and it prevents the harmful
effects of graphic television. Many people are in favor of
censorship and it may be accomplished without violating
the rights of broadcasters or any other individuals.
Censorship "refers to suppression of information, ideas, or
artistic expression by anyone, whether government officials,
church authorities, private pressure groups, or speakers,
writers, and artists themselves" (Grolier, Inc.). Censorship
can be a bad thing, and can also be positive. For television
use, it is there to protect the people, namely children. There
is a fear that the expression if not curtailed will do harm to
individuals in its audiences or to society as a whole.
"Obscene material is attacked because of the fear that it
will corrupt personal morality" (Grolier, Inc.). The first
amendment states that Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances. In no way does censorship violate the first
amendment. Censorship prevents broadcasters from
infringing on the rights of the viewers. Censorship has really
been limited to obscenity and gratuitous violence or nudity
because people in the media have policed themselves
pretty harshly. The most prominent law established due to
censorship is the Children's Television Act of 1990. It was
established to "remind broadcasters that there is indeed a
common ground outside their narrow interests, a
responsibility beyond profiteering, a common civic well
where national purposes may coalesce"
(http://www.cep.org/vchip.html). This law, like many others
was put into place to protect the public. Many people
throughout the United States feel very strongly...
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