Madam, - Violent death has become an accepted and apparently essential part of our television entertainment diet.
Research has shown that the average child in the US or Britain will see more than 7,000 violent deaths on television before starting second-level education at 12 years of age. A well-adjusted adult in these countries will typically see approximately 15,000 violent deaths on television. No statistics are available for Ireland but there is reason to believe that the corresponding figures are higher.
The effects of this exposure to violence on television have been identified by Prof Joanne Cantor to a US Senate Committee as: (1) creating in viewers a greater tolerance of violent acts; (2) fostering insecurity and reinforcing a belief that one lives in a hostile environment; and (3) predisposing some viewers to act violently.
In addition it is suggested that the constant showing of violent death as entertainment is reinforcing the subconscious belief that "life is cheap". Could this belief be a factor in the apparent acceptability in some quarters of the current high levels of violence, murder and suicide?
This important question prompted me to start a campaign which seeks to generate informed discussion on violence in the media, in schools and among the public, by focusing attention on the issue for one day each year.
I contacted television stations transmitting into Ireland and asked them if they would observe one single day each year when they would show no violent death for entertainment purposes in their schedules. The date chosen was Wednesday, September 21st, United Nations World Peace Day, an occasion with no political or religious connotations.
Your readers may be interested to know that TG4 was the only station readily to agree with this request, while RTÉ, BBC and TV3 wrote stating that they would not co-operate in this manner.
Do readers consider it amazing that two such illustrious public service broadcasters are unwilling to give up using violent death as entertainment for just one day each year? - Yours, etc,
TERRY GILLESPIE,
The Glebe,
Stradbally,
Co Laois.