TV violence under attack
- Publication: Belfast Telegraph
- Date: 1977-09-07
- Author:
- Page: 1
- Language: English
THE violence of Ulster on television can do without the support features of Kojak and Cannon, teachers said today.
They don't mind children watching Dr. Who, cowboys and Indians. But Rochford and Starsky and Hutch are programmes they could possibly do without.
The blame for some of Britain's rising violence has been pinned firmly on violent TV programmes, according to a report out to-day.
Kojak and Cannon are among them.
And, according to some Ulster teachers, TV violence does have an affect on the province's children caught up in Northern Ireland's violent real life drama.
Mr. Sean Lavery, the headmaster of St. Peter's Secondary School, in Belfast, said: "If TV violence does create problems, then we can do without it backing up in a society which is violent itself."
Mrs. Eleanor Dobson, the principal of Cairnmartin Secondary School, said: "Science fiction and westerns gives children an opportunity to enjoy a fantasy world, but Kojak, Starsky and Hutch is too near the horrible world of reality in which they live."
Dr. Marie Logan-Ryan, a lecturer in psychology in Queen's University, Belfast, said today: "It seems very likely, from current research, that exposing children, or indeed adults, to violence on TV programmes may convince them it is 'OK' to commit violence acts.
"For example, the U.S.-type police TV show, where legitimate or illegitimate violence is used, have a tendency to make those who watch them see the violence is acceptable. In Sweden the authorities have restrictions on violence on TV."
Dr. Logan-Ryan said there was a case for looking at censorship of violence on television: "It is at least worth examining," she added.
In London today, the heads of both BBC TV channels were meeting Dr. William Belson, a research worker, who carried out the study on 1,300 London boys.
He claims boys who watch a lot of screen violence are 50 pc more likely to become seriously violent themselves.
Mr. Bill O'Hara, the national BBC in Northern Ireland, said: "I haven't studied the report fully yet, but it is partially in line with least some of my own feelings.
"It is high time the subject was thoroughly discussed. Let us bring it out likely to become seriously into the open and if there is violent themselves. a line to be drawn on TV violence, let us talk about it now."
Mr. Tony Fleck, the regional officer of the IBA in Northern Ireland, said: "As far as I know there is no research evidence to suggest that TV violence exacerbates the troubles on our streets."
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- APA 6th ed.: (1977-09-07). TV violence under attack. Belfast Telegraph p. 1.
- MLA 7th ed.: "TV violence under attack." Belfast Telegraph [add city] 1977-09-07, 1. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "TV violence under attack." Belfast Telegraph, edition, sec., 1977-09-07
- Turabian: "TV violence under attack." Belfast Telegraph, 1977-09-07, section, 1 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=TV violence under attack | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/TV_violence_under_attack | work=Belfast Telegraph | pages=1 | date=1977-09-07 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 May 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=TV violence under attack | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/TV_violence_under_attack | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 May 2025}}</ref>
