In 2021, we passed the sixieth anniversary of former FCC Chairman Newton Minow’s famous speech which classified television as a vast wasteland. He was definitely ahead of his time. Through the medium of TV, the average child in America views 25,000 murders by age eighteen.
Minow, who later served as a lawyer based in Chicago, felt things got worse: “In 1961, I worried that my children would not benefit much from television,” he told an audience at Columbia University. “In 1991, I worry that my grandchildren actually will be harmed by it.”
Television is a neutral tool. What we do with it determines its benefit or harm. Today’s benefit may best be found in turning it off more often and using that time to write to a network and tell them what types of entertainment you would like to see and support. Who knows, the silent box may even inspire you to engage in a little daytime drama with your own family. – Marriage Partnership, Summer 1991, p. 87
Research revealed that 93% of the 10,000 sexual situations which occur on television each year involve non-married people. Even worse is the fact that nearly 50 percent of American teenagers believe TV accurately portrays the consequences of sex outside of marriage. The average adult would gain thirty hours a week by turning off the TV. In reality, much more than time would be gained. – Focus on the Family, Sept. 1995, p. 10
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things – Philippians 4:8
