Feingold M, Johnson G T
N Engl J Med. 1977 Feb 24;296(8):424-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197702242960804.
In response to our call for letters on television violence we received more than 1500 letters from readers of the Journal. Seventy-two per cent of the leading television advertisers responded to a subsequent letter requesting a description of their policies regarding content of the programs they sponsor. Their responses included exculpating factors such as lack of control over programming, the limited amount of available advertising time and censorship. We presented these responses to network representatives. They commented on the difficulty in defining violence, the current decrease in the amount of violence shown and their activities in response to this issue. We maintain that the burden of proof that television violence does not harm lies with those who introduce it into society. Advertisers and networks will respond, we believe, to the problem of television violence if continuous public pressure is maintained.
应我们在电视暴力问题上征集读者来信的呼吁，我们收到了《期刊》读者的1500多封来信。72%的主要电视广告商回复了后续信件，信中要求他们描述自己对于所赞助节目的内容的相关政策。他们的回复中包含了一些免责因素，比如对节目编排缺乏控制权、可用广告时间有限以及审查制度。我们将这些回复呈递给了电视网代表。他们谈到了界定暴力的困难、当前暴力画面数量的减少以及他们针对此问题所开展的活动。我们坚持认为，将电视暴力无害的举证责任在于那些将其引入社会的人。我们相信，如果持续保持公众压力，广告商和电视网会对电视暴力问题做出回应。
