Valenti Prods TV Execs to Restrict Violence

Motion Picture Assn. of America President Jack Valenti on Thursday urged TV executives to take more responsibility for television violence and “act as if TV is indeed a major factor in antisocial behavior.” Valenti’s remarks to the National Assn. of Television Program Executives appeared aimed at prodding executives to voluntarily restrict such violence before federal authorities do. He said the industry has “an obligation to be responsible for what we conceive, accountable to our lucid, moral instincts.” Separately, a group of actors, authors, publishers and others said they have formed a coalition to fight legislative restrictions on TV violence.