Contact: Morality In Media, Inc., 212-870-3210, 212-870-3222, mim@moralityinmedia.org

NEW YORK, April 10 /Standard Newswire/ -- In an editorial today, "Imus goes off the dial," the New York Daily News warns about overreacting to radio shock jock Don Imus's latest outrage, "else the specter of intervention by federal regulators – who already slap substantial fines on radio people for the mere occasional obscenity – looms large."

MIM President Robert Peters had the following comments:

"Last year, TV networks sued the FCC in a New York City federal court arguing in part that the FCC erred by determining that an 'isolated expletive' uttered during named prime time TV programs violated the broadcast indecency law.

"Perhaps I have misunderstood the network arguments, but it would seem they want the right to utter at least one 'four letter word' in each program. Of course, what the networks ultimately want is an unrestricted 'right' to curse, just like on HBO.

"The truth of the matter is that cursing on broadcast TV during the prime time hours is already pandemic, and to talk about 'an isolated expletive during prime time hours' is an oxymoron

"I would add that the explosion of four letter words in broadcasting has not been without consequence, as Morality in Media pointed out in Comments submitted to the FCC last year.

"'For example,' we said then, 'in 1993, more than 500 readers responded to a Daily News survey on TV violence. In response to the question, "Do you think language on prime time shows is damaging to your children," 69.6% said yes. In response to the question, "Have you ever noticed your children's language change after they have watched a show," 54.8% said yes.'

"Of course, had the FCC been doing its job, the Imus incident might have been prevented because radio stations would have long ago curbed hardcore rap lyrics with sexual comments about African American women that Imus was apparently imitating at least in part.

"As the proverb goes, 'Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware.'"