Pleading the First

No one can quarrel with Newton Minow’s urgent pleas that television networks improve children’s programming. (“Fighting the Good Fight for TV, Again,” Calendar, Sept. 16). But he loses his credibility when he chastises broadcasters for “hiding behind the First Amendment.”

The First Amendment prohibits government censorship. Minow argues that efforts to force networks to develop less violent and more educational programs do not amount to government censorship. But then he turns around and endorses proposals to empower the Federal Communications Commission (that’s the government ) to “mandate” broadcasters (that’s censorship ) to air at least one hour a day of “educational” programming for youngsters.

The First Amendment was written to prevent the government from dictating the content of what we can see and read, even in the name of laudable goals like helping to educate our children.

STEPHEN H. ROHDE, Rohde & Victoroff, Los Angeles