The government has launced an advertising campaign warning of the
evils and dangers of knife crime.
Beyer sees this as the perfect opportunity to push his agenda by
writing to the Prime Minister blaming the entertainment industries for
the problem.
From Mediawatch UK:
In a letter to the Prime Minister, John Beyer, director of mediawatch-
uk said:
“Bearing in mind that the Government has itself launched an
advertising campaign through the media, thus recognising the power of
the media to influence behaviour, we believe that the time has come
for the Government to make it clear to broadcasters and film-makers
that the gratuitous portrayal of the use of guns and knives, merely
for entertainment, is no longer tolerable given the situation we all
face.
If the necessary changes in attitude and culture are ever to be
achieved we believe tackling the entertainment industries is essential
no matter how contentious the task may seem.”
“We believe that the time has come for the Government to make it clear
to broadcasters and film-makers that the gratuitous portrayal of the
use of guns and knives, merely for entertainment, is no longer
tolerable given the situation we all face.”
A situation we all face. In other words young people going round
stabbing each other and innocent bystandards for which the media can
be blamed.
Beyer’s letter to the PM helps knowone. Tackling knife crime and youth
violence is far more complicated than simply pointing the fingre at
broadcasters and film makers.
Addressing the lives that young people live today is of far more
improtance.
