Freedom To Write: USA
First Amendment Updates
Return to the First Amendment Updates listing
Censorship on Television: When Crying “Indecency” Goes Too Far
February 18, 2005
PEN USA is concerned with the self-censoring due to the desperation gripping television networks lately. Stations are censoring themselves before the FCC or an outspoken religious minority can fine, slander, or boycott them.
UPDATE 2/18/05: Another case of a network scared into self-censorship. PBS was planning to air “A Company of Soliders,” which follows members of the 1st Battalion of the Army’s 8th Cavalry, who protect bodyguards assigned to senior officers in south Baghdad. This was part of PBS’ public news program “Frontline.”
Many of the scenes are vivid, as one might expect from men and women under fire. So is the language. With the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) mounting crackdown on indecency, PBS took no chances.
It edited the nationally televised version of “Frontline” that will be fed to member stations. Instead of cursing during an ambush or sniper attack, there is bleeping.
Fox has decided to blur a scene in the cartoon series “Family Guy” that shows a main character’s bare behind, even though they broadcast that episode five years without complaint. As far as many Americans can remember, Bart Simpson “mooned” Springfield without complaint in Fox cartoon series “The Simpsons,” but if the move with “Family Guy” is any clue, soon that may be pixilated as well.
Fox is probably being wary due to fines of $7,000 to each of its affiliates after airing a reality show called “Married in America.” The reason for the fine? A clip showing a female contestant licking cream from a male stripper’s chest. The FCC is considering a record $1.2 million fine for the network itself. “We have to be checking and second-guessing ourselves now,” Gail Berman, the head of Fox Entertainment, told Variety in an interview.
PBS is censoring a BBC drama documentary about the aftermath of a dirty bomb attack on London, called “Dirty War.” The scene being cut out involves a naked woman—being decontaminated in a shower after the attack.
So fearful are the stations that Fox turned down an advertisement for a cold remedy because it contained a brief flash of 84-year old actor Mickey Rooney’s rear. ABC refused to show the WWII drama Saving Private Ryan, because of explicit language, even though this showing was done by ABC on previous Veteran’s Days.
Loud groups such as the Parents Television Council and the American Decency Association work hand-in-hand with the FCC in intimidating networks into self-censorship. Due to legality issues, the FCC cannot warn what is offensive or not beforehand, so stations have to be terribly careful about what is aired to prevent being slapped with a huge fine.
These decency groups feel they have power to decide what is aired on television, rather than the power to simply turn off the television or keep their children from watching late at night. Nothing is safe: James Dobson and his “Focus on Family” group have decided innocent cartoon SpongeBob Squarepants is now offensive.
The “sponge’s” crime was appearing in a tolerance and cultural diversity cartoon this week, along with other characters like Barney the Dinosaur and Oscar the Grouch. Perhaps SpongeBob will be fined for daring to suggest tolerance to a nation of impressionable children. Mr. Dobson is already appealing to the FCC, claiming this tolerance video also preaches acceptance of homosexuality and thus “encourages homosexuality.”
PEN USA’s First Amendment Action committee is concerned by this trend of self-censorship. The FCC and narrow-minded ‘decency’ groups are intimidating networks into fear and silence. This is something that should concern anyone who supports free expression.
Stephen Rohde, Vice President of Freedom to Write and lawyer specializing in First Amendment issues said, “The FCC is prevented by its founding legislation from censoring any broadcast programming. It is supposed to operate in the ‘public interest.’ It is not in the ‘public interest’ for certain prudish groups to dictate what the American people can see on television, when the material is constitutionally protected and violates no laws. Such groups remain free to exercise their constitutional rights to publicly condemn any programming they find offensive and to press the ‘OFF’ button on the remote.”
Comments:
censorship = conformity
censorship sucks
CENSORSHIP CAN KISS MY ASS!!!
Controlling what you see and hear is the first step to controlling your mind.
Woot
Like this article states “the power to simply turn off the television or keep their children from watching late at night”. Nuff said.
"Controlling what you see and her is the first step to controlling your mind”
Oh please, dont be ridiculous. Since when is the FCC trying to control your mind? Ever heard of cable TV? Satellite radio? DVD’s? Ring any bells?
To whoever said:
“Like this article states “the power to simply turn off the television...” etc.
First of all. Not all offensive material gets aired late at night.
Second, I paid for my television. And in persuit of happiness, I should be able to leave it on all day and never have to turn it off.
Yes, you have a constitutional right to say whatever the hell you want, but that doesnt mean I have to listen to you. I dont want the sick and twisted fantasies of some hollywood producer to enter my livingroom without permission.
Think about it. If you really want to watch uncensored and ‘offensive’ material, nothing is stopping you. It’s everywhere. Broadcast TV should give ppl the option of a safe and clean form of media, if that is their choice.
Censorship doesnt stop you from viewing mature material inasmuch as a red light stops you from arriving at your destination.
If you dont like what I said, then dont read this…
Or better yet, censor me.
this is a really good article and it was written the day before my birthday bye
i like eggs. a lot. and i agree that censorship should exist during the hours that children are awake and watching television. after 10 the censorship should be lighter, which it is, but to a higher degree.
go liberalism!
people should choose what they watch, not the FCC or those other groups. if there is something on tv, dont watch it. if you dont think your kids should be watching certain things, there are settings you can use to block those programs from your tv. nudity, violence, and profanity are parts of every day life, not because they are on tv, but because those things are in our culture.