I do not want to be a censor, but I think that society may sometimes be sewing the seeds of its own destruction. [There are] lots of things wrong in our society today. I don’t believe that necessarily cleaning up obscenity on the Internet, or on cable television, or on television itself is going to solve all the problems, but this may be a little step in the right direction.
Predictor: Exon, James
Prediction, in context:In a transcript from a May 11, 1995, broadcast of the CNN entertainment show “Showbiz Today,” Jill Brooke, a CNN entertainment correspondent, has the following conversation with James Exon, introduced by anchor Tom Moret: Tom Moret: “You may be shocked by the sexually explicit material on local cable channels and the Internet. Senator James Exon thinks there should be limits. His so-called decency bill would allow regulation of cyberspace sex and would allow cable companies to ban programs they deem obscene. Jill Brooke has more.” Jill Brooke: “Washington lawmakers are once again moaning over this type of programming, and have introduced a Senate amendment to ensure that the information highway doesn’t turn into a red-light district. But there’s a new twist to the latest legislation to prohibit nudity on the airwaves. Instead of attacking the programmers, Sen. James Exon’s amendment will turn [them] into watchdogs.” Sen. James Exon (D-Neb.): “I do not want to be a censor, but I think that society may sometimes be sewing the seeds of its own destruction. [There are] lots of things wrong in our society today. I don’t believe that necessarily cleaning up obscenity on the Internet, or on cable television, or on television itself is going to solve all the problems, but this may be a little step in the right direction.”
Biography:James Exon, a U.S. senator from Nebraska, was the author of the Communications Decency Act, passed by the U.S. Senate in 1995. The controversial legislation contained sweeping language barring “obscene,” “indecent” or “harassing” communications online or via phone or fax. (Legislator/Politician/Lawyer.)
Date of prediction: May 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Censorship/Free Speech
Name of publication: CNN Showbiz Today
Title, headline, chapter name: Senate Wants Cable to Clean Up Its Act
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=3c435c74ea22629e739c9c79efb024a0&_docnum=45&wchp=dGLbVlz-lSlAl&_md5=5848eca0a974ef68b9689fe9051f8f4f
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Dube, Kristin