Broadcast Indecency

The supposedly accidental “wardrobe malfunction” that exposed Janet Jackson's right breast during the Super Bowl halftime show shouldn't have surprised anyone. Radio shock jocks like Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge have been pushing the decency envelope for years, and TV has been following suit, raising new complaints about its increasingly risqué — some say indecent — content. Defenders of the media say the First Amendment gives them wide latitude to broadcast sexually provocative material, which simply reflects changing contemporary mores. But critics of today's radio and television content say sexually oriented broadcasting can harm society, especially children. With polls showing that Americans want something done about broadcast content, legislation is now pending in Congress to increase indecency fines dramatically. There is even talk of regulating the cable TV industry.