Researchers Oppose PTC Letter
A letter from parents' groups urging the FCC to reform the TV content ratings system was disputed by a group of university researchers, who questioned the harmful effects of TV violence on children. The researchers "believe that reevaluation of ratings…
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systems can be positive and there may be legitimate areas for improvement” but the evidence is "at best, mixed” that TV violence causes harm to children, the letter said. “Parents deserve to have honest, clear information about the media their children use in an easy-to-understand format. But ratings based on the potential for 'harm' inherently lack validity given unclear scientific evidence for harm,” the letter said. “We suggest caution in selecting scientific advisors for any ratings system improvement initiative, given difficulties our field too often has in representing our own data clearly and honestly.” The Parents Television Council and others sent the earlier letter to the FCC. A few dozen professors from public and private schools, from the U.S. and elsewhere, sent the latest letter.