OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE ON TV REMAINS AN ISSUE

SWEARING and offensive language on television, radio, print and in poster advertising remains an issue of concern to most adults according to a new study.
The ‘Delete Expletives?’ study, published jointly by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) and the Independent Television Commission (ITC), found that there had been little movement since 1998 in the three words rated as most ‘severe’ by respondents.
However, the use of the terms racist abuse on television and radio is an area of concern. A list of words tested among respondents showed that the term ‘nigger’ had moved from eleventh position in 1998 to fifth in 2000. These words are also regarded by around 50 per cent to be unacceptable for broadcast on television at any time.
Director of the BSC Stephen Whittle said: “The results of Delete Expletives? Confirm our previous findings that people do not like to be confronted with swearing or offensive language on their screens when watching television with children. Although there is an acceptance that swearing and offensive language is used in daily life and may be appropriate if a programme is aimed at adults, they would prefer their homes to remain an expletive deleted zone for children.”
The use of swear words and terms of abuse on television before Watershed was considered generally unacceptable by respondents.
This expectation was driven by parents’ desire to protect children from hearing ‘strong language’. If words or expletives were considered ‘mild’ respondents could occasionally accept their use within editorial context before 9.00pm. However, the Watershed was viewed as a mutual ‘contract’ between the viewer and the broadcaster, and it was thought that parents should be able to rely on its responsible use.
Patricia Hodgson, Chief Executive of the ITC, said: “The ITC have clear rules on the use of strong language in programmes, particularly before the Watershed, and to prevent offence in television advertisements. The research clearly shows that strong language is still a matter of great concern to viewers, and we expect broadcasters and television advertisers to take careful notes of these findings.”
(CD)