Violence Essay Research Paper Title Industry Slow

Violence Essay, Research Paper Title: Industry Slow To Reform Marketing Violence To Kids. (cover story) Subject(s): VIOLENCE in mass media — United States; SOUND recording industry — United States; ADVERTISING & youth — United States; UNITED States. — Federal Trade Commission; LIEBERMAN, Joseph — Political & social views Source: Billboard, 05/05/2001, Vol. 113 Issue 18, p1, 2p, 1c Author(s): Holland, Bill Abstract: Looks at reaction to a follow-up study released by the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which criticized the record industry for not offering reforms to prevent the marketing of violent products to children. Comment from Senator Joseph Lieberman about the Recording Industry Association of America; Information about a bill the would

authorize the FTC to monitor and fine entertainment industries that deceptively market adult-rated material to children; AN: 4382343 ISSN: 0006-2510 Database: Academic Search Premier Best Part INDUSTRY SLOW TO REFORM MARKETING VIOLENCE TO KIDS Dateline: WASHINGTON, D.C. Officials from mental health, children’s, and public interest groups made scathing indictments of record industry officials after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an April 24 follow-up study lambasting the industry for not making reforms to prevent the marketing of violent product to children. “I’m surprised and disappointed in the record industry,” Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., told Billboard April 26 after the announcement of a bill, co-sponsored by former first lady and Sen. Hillary Clinton,

D-N.Y., and Herb Kohl, D-Wis., that would authorize the FTC to monitor and fine entertainment industries that deceptively market adult-rated material to children. “Especially since the two other industries, the movie studios and the video-game industry, have made strides to improve their marketing in the last six months.” Lieberman said the Recording Industry Assn. of America (RIAA) has “sadly been MIA” – i.e., missing in action. “Six months [after the FTC report], we can see who has responded to the report and who has failed to answer the call,” Clinton said at the joint announcement of the bill. “We are basing this [bill] on a very simple premise: If you label something as inappropriate for children, then you go out and try to entice our children to buy your

product or see it, you have engaged in false and deceptive advertising.” The bill, if passed, would give the FTC the authority to penalize companies with civil fines of up to $11,000 per offense. RIAA senior executive VP and general counsel Cary Sherman commented that the bill “raises serious constitutional red flags” and “would have the unintentional result of discouraging participation” in the industry’s voluntary stickering program. That announcement of the bill follows an April 24 statement from the chairman of the Commerce Committee, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sens. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C.; Sam Brownback, R-Kan.; and Max Cleland, D-Ga., critical that the industry stopped short of legislative remedy. The FTC’s “snapshot” update looked at what had changed

since its initial September 2000 report on violence and media (Billboard, Sept. 23). The FTC found that the movie and video-game industries had instituted reforms but that the record industry had not made good on promises. Andrew Schwartzman, president of public interest law firm the Media Access Group, believes the industry has brought the criticism upon itself. “There is a difference between what one has a right to do and what is socially responsible,” he says. “It appears they have targeted a mass audience for this material, and then they’re ‘horrified’ when it’s discovered what they’ve done. They’re being duplicitous – in the end, they’re lying.” He continues, “They say they’re not marketing to kids, but they are. If they say one thing and do