MEETING AMERICA'S CHALLENGE TO STRENGTHEN
OUR FAMILIES: GIVING PARENTS THE TOOLS TO
CONTROL THEIR CHILDREN'S TELEVISION
February 29, 1996
"Our first challenge is to cherish our children and strengthen
America's families. . .I challenge the broadcast industry to do what
movies have done -- to identify your programming in ways that help
parents to protect their children. And I invite the leaders of major
media corporations in the entertainment industry to come to the White
House next month to work with us in a positive way on concrete ways to
improve what our children see on television. I am ready to work with
you."
-- President Clinton, State of the Union address,
January 23, 1996
A television ratings system. Today, President Clinton met with
executives from the media and entertainment industry, and announced a
breakthrough agreement to develop a voluntary ratings system that
will help parents protect their children from violence and adult
content on TV. The industry's development of this ratings system is
in response to the challenge issued by the President in his State of
the Union address.
- A new industry standard. The broadcast industry executives have
agreed that there will be an industry-wide standard for the
ratings system. The system will be in place by the end of the
year, and will help reduce the effects of televised violence and
sex on our children.
- The V-Chip and the Telecommunications Bill - Giving parents the
tools they need. The ratings system will be compatible with the
V-Chip, which the President signed into law in the
Telecommunications Act of 1996. This will help parents to take
responsibility over what their children watch on television by
letting them block shows with certain ratings.
- Children's programming. It is not enough for parents to choose
what their children should not watch. The President believes we
need to improve both the quality and quantity of programming that
is aimed at enriching the lives of children in America.
Presidential leadership. This meeting with broadcast industry
executives demonstrates that with innovative Presidential leadership,
responsible corporations can help us meet America's challenges.
- Affirming our values by working together. America is stronger if
our families are stronger. But we must give responsible parents
the tools they need to do their job. By encouraging the
entertainment industry to adopt a ratings system, the President
has helped to meet that challenge -- not through coercion or a new
government program, but by a call for all of us to work together
to find practical solutions that solve real problems.
- Corporate responsibility. In rising to President Clinton's
challenge and making a commitment to the common good as well as
their bottom line, these captains of industry have also been
responsible citizens. In another Presidential initiative, and
with help from technological innovators such as Bill Gates of
Microsoft, every classroom in America will be linked to the
Internet by the year 2000. With Project XL, the President is
cutting red tape to preserve our environment, challenging
industrial leaders like AT&T to find new ways to comply with
environmental rules while working with their local communities.
The President is also working with CEO's across America to
establish family-friendly workplaces. This meeting with broadcast
industry executives demonstrates that with innovative Presidential
leadership, responsible corporations can help us meet America's
challenges.
