NBC Nightly News - 1996-02-29 - 1 of 2

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Transcript

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[0:00] America's

[0:01] television powers are summoned to

[0:03] Washington. They volunteer to rape their

[0:05] programs on sex and violence. Another

[0:08] kid killing a kid with a gun, this time

[0:10] in St. Louis. A national shame goes on

[0:12] and on. NBC News inepth, the fight for

[0:16] South Carolina. The new South versus the

[0:19] old on jobs.

[0:21] And on Healthw Watch, new treatments for

[0:23] breast and ovarian cancers. The genes

[0:26] lead the way.

[0:28] From NBC News, this is NBC Nightly News

[0:33] with Tom Brokoff.

[0:35] >> Good evening. This is an issue that

[0:36] affects just about every household in

[0:38] America, especially those with kids. Sex

[0:41] and violence on television and what

[0:43] should be done about it. It's part

[0:44] political, part legal, part cultural,

[0:47] and there is no shortage of opinions. So

[0:49] when congressional leaders and President

[0:51] Clinton today invited the industry's top

[0:53] executives to separate meetings in

[0:55] Washington, the executives came prepared

[0:57] with their own ideas. A rating system

[1:00] they control, not the government. NBC's

[1:03] Brian Williams begins our coverage. The

[1:05] people who decide what America watches

[1:07] gathered in one room to deal with one

[1:10] issue. Specifically, the charge that

[1:12] America's children are watching way too

[1:14] much trash on TV.

[1:18] What you going to do?

[1:20] >> The nation's television programmers are

[1:22] experts at spotting trends and they saw

[1:24] this one coming. The trend toward

[1:26] familyfriendly viewing. So they came to

[1:28] the White House ready to make a deal.

[1:30] And when the president announced it, it

[1:32] meant television will never be the same.

[1:34] >> As a result of our discussions, the

[1:36] media and the entertainment industry has

[1:39] agreed to a voluntary systems of ratings

[1:41] for television programs.

[1:43] >> It will be just like the movies. Now, TV

[1:45] shows will carry a rating. The

[1:47] government isn't involved. The people

[1:48] who distribute the shows will rate their

[1:51] own shows, but they don't know exactly

[1:53] how yet.

[1:54] >> All these questions right now are

[1:56] mercury viewed, very mysty observed. We

[2:00] haven't done that kind of work yet.

[2:02] >> The idea is to use the new ratings and

[2:05] the new V chip starting next year as a

[2:07] way of blocking shows parents don't want

[2:10] their kids to see. Some of the

[2:12] technology has been tested in Canada. It

[2:14] leaves news and sports alone, but can

[2:16] keep sex and violence away from

[2:18] children.

[2:19] >> They see uh couples that aren't married

[2:22] u rolling around passionately uh

[2:25] partially clad and having sex and so

[2:28] forth without the consequences that that

[2:30] uh that has a a negative impact.

[2:33] >> This is about providing more

[2:34] information. This is about doing

[2:36] something that's very positive for

[2:38] parents. Television executives found a

[2:40] way to come up with a solution on their

[2:42] own and not have one forced upon them.

[2:44] While the first US president to have

[2:46] grown up in the television age found a

[2:48] way to claim credit for changing the

[2:50] industry. Now both sides have to figure

[2:52] out a way to make it work. Brian

[2:55] Williams, NBC News, the White House. Not

[2:57] everyone agrees with the proposed new

[2:59] rating system. Of course, not even those

[3:01] in the industry. two of the most

[3:03] successful television entrepreneurs,

[3:05] Barry Diller, the architect of Fox

[3:07] before getting his own stations, and

[3:09] Steven Botchko, the creator of LA Law,

[3:12] NYPD Blue, and Murder One, among others,

[3:15] tonight in their own words.

[3:18] >> Many well-meaning people look at this

[3:21] and say, "Our problems can be solved by

[3:24] the Vich. Our problems can be solved by

[3:26] ratings." Now, the fact that they're

[3:28] wrong, completely wrong, does not say

[3:32] that their intentions are not worthy. It

[3:34] just says, "No, sorry. It really doesn't

[3:37] work that way. It'd be great, but it

[3:40] doesn't." From a producers's point of

[3:42] view, I feel that that a a legislated

[3:46] rating system along with the attendant

[3:49] Vchip technology would have a chilling

[3:52] effect on on our ability as producers to

[3:56] create shows like NYPD Blue. What does

[3:59] make sense is for broadcasters to

[4:01] exercise more responsibility, which they

[4:04] have not done in the last several years.

[4:06] I mean, I I've made mistakes in

[4:08] broadcasting. Everyone who's in it has

[4:09] made mistakes. They need to be reminded

[4:11] of their public service

[4:12] responsibilities.

[4:14] >> Clearly, we live in in in a mass

[4:17] communication

[4:19] universe where where everything from

[4:24] war in Bosnia to to killings in the in

[4:27] the streets of Los Angeles are are

[4:31] on the TV screen for everybody to see.

[4:34] And in that context, in that

[4:35] environment, certainly what we do in

[4:37] prime time television is is by

[4:40] comparison incredibly bland.

[4:42] >> You're not going to rate news, right? On

[4:44] one hand, because everybody says, "Well,

[4:46] you can't rate news." But what about

[4:48] cops? That's real. You know, it's

[4:50] non-fiction. You're going to rate that.

[4:52] >> I wonder whether this legislation

[4:54] envisions a time when you're going to

[4:55] have to put a V chip in your radio or

[4:58] whether you're going to have to rate

[4:59] every single song you hear on the radio.

[5:01] The truth is that the issue for

[5:03] television is that standards have

[5:06] eroded. Broadcasters have let slide

[5:09] their public interest responsibilities

[5:12] over the last 10 years. I maintain that

[5:14] there is already a very adequate V chip

[5:17] on your television set. It's called your

[5:19] off button. Take control of it.

[5:23] >> The Vchip will not be available for

[5:24] another two years, but an estimated 25

[5:27] million Americans will buy a new

[5:28] television set this year.

[5:31] There's a stern warning from President

[5:32] Clinton to Cuba tonight. Don't interfere

[5:35] with a planned protest off Cuba's coast

[5:38] this Saturday. The Cuban exile group,

[5:40] Brothers to the Rescue, says it will

[5:42] send a plane and a flotilla of boats to

[5:44] the site where Cuban jet fighters shot

[5:46] down two of its planes last weekend,

[5:49] escorting the protest the protesters,

[5:51] the US Coast Guard, which will also make

[5:54] sure the group stays out of Cuban

[5:55] territory.

[5:57] When NBC Nightly News continues, good

[5:59] news in the fight against breast and

[6:01] ovarian cancers, a genetic breakthrough.

[6:04] >> These genes have a number of features

[6:05] that are different and the first steps

[6:07] are very promising ones and the first

[6:10] steps have worked very well.

[6:12] >> How does it work? Can it lead to new

[6:14] treatments? And still ahead tonight, the

[6:17] first year report card for Denver's

[6:19] Embattled New Airport. It's getting some

[6:22] surprising grades.

[6:25] These are daytime running lamps. When

[6:27] you're on a two-lane highway like this

[6:29] in very bright sunlight, it helps you

[6:31] see a car or truck. Headlights at night

[6:33] help you see other things. But this lets

[6:34] people see you anytime. If I step back

[6:37] into the shadow, I disappear without

[6:38] these lights. But with these lights on,

[6:41] I'm a car. And right now, General Motors

[6:44] is the only domestic car producer that

[6:46] is going to have these daytime running

[6:47] lights. And we're doing them just

[6:48] because we think it's the right thing to

[6:50] do. We're just going to do it.

[6:54] actually done it.

[6:56] >> There are those among us with very

[6:58] simple tastes. They only want the best.

[7:01] And for them, there's Fancy Feast

[7:03] gourmet cat food. Exceptionally moist

[7:06] and delicious. Fancy Feast. Good taste

[7:08] is easy to recognize.

[7:11] >> I'm 62. Can I still help prevent

[7:12] osteoporosis?

[7:14] >> It's never too late for Calree. Calree

[7:16] Plus has the extra calcium you need,

[7:18] plus six nutrients essential for healthy

[7:20] bones. Whatever your age,

[7:23] >> it's never too late for Cal Trade.

[7:27] >> Looks good, huh?

[7:29] >> Spaghetti.

[7:32] >> Not now.

[7:33] >> Salad.

[7:33] >> Now.

[7:35] >> Not now.

[7:38] >> Now.

[7:43] Now. Real Italian meals don't begin

[7:46] without the Parmesan cheese that's

[7:48] always 100% Parmesan. No fillers. Craft

[7:51] 100% grated Parmesan cheese. Now you can

[7:54] eat.

[7:57] >> In Law and Order news tonight, in North

[7:59] Carolina, 21-year-old Daniel Andre Green

[8:01] was found guilty of first-degree murder

[8:03] and robbery in the 1993 killing of James

[8:06] Jordan, the father of basketball star

[8:08] Michael Jordan. He'll be sentenced by

[8:10] the same jury that convicted him. He

[8:12] could face the death penalty.

[8:15] >> And in St. Louis, a pregnant 15year-old

[8:17] was murdered on a school bus today. The

[8:20] suspected killer also thought to be a

[8:22] teenager. More proof of just how

[8:24] vulnerable kids are, even in places that

[8:27] should be safe. NBC's Jim Abala has the

[8:30] story.

[8:32] >> The driver and three students, one of

[8:34] them 6 months pregnant, were on this

[8:36] school bus at 7 this morning. As the bus

[8:38] stopped for another pickup, a teenage

[8:41] gunman stepped on board and opened fire.

[8:43] The driver was hit three times and is in

[8:46] critical condition. The 15-year-old

[8:48] pregnant girl was shot three times.

[8:50] Kayuna Taylor died minutes later and

[8:53] doctors rushed to deliver the baby girl

[8:55] through Cesareian section. She is now in

[8:57] critical condition.

[8:58] >> Although uh the baby's heart might have

[9:00] continued to beat, there was no oxygen

[9:02] going to the baby or to the baby's

[9:04] brain. Uh the baby's outcome is in

[9:07] doubt.

[9:08] >> Today's shooting is just the latest in a

[9:10] string of teen killings on school

[9:12] properties across the nation. Four weeks

[9:14] ago at Frontier Junior High in

[9:16] Washington State, an algebra teacher and

[9:18] two students killed by a 14-year-old and

[9:21] his rifle. November 1995, Pilaski,

[9:24] Tennessee, a 17-year-old shoots two

[9:27] teachers and a student. October 95, in

[9:30] Denver, a high school senior kills a

[9:32] classmate during lunch. Also in October,

[9:36] a South Carolina 16-year-old shoots his

[9:38] teacher and then kills himself. And in

[9:41] Memphis, Tennessee, last September, a

[9:43] junior high school student shoots a

[9:45] 15-year-old in the school hallway.

[9:47] Schools in America's urban centers are

[9:49] built like fortresses, but they're still

[9:52] dangerous places. In fact, a school

[9:54] crime takes place once every 6 seconds,

[9:56] and the National Education Association

[9:58] says students carry 270,000 guns onto

[10:02] campus every year. 12 children die each

[10:05] day from guns. The violence is becoming

[10:08] much more severe and the age at which

[10:10] youngsters are committing the crimes is

[10:12] becoming younger.

[10:13] >> As St. Louis police search for a

[10:15] suspect, the nation's educators are

[10:16] looking for a way to stop the violence.

[10:19] Jim Avala, NBC News.

[10:22] >> On Wall Street today, the Dow was down

[10:24] in very heavy trading. So was the

[10:25] NASDAQ. When we come back, NBC News in

[10:28] depth tonight, worries about jobs and

[10:31] foreign trade in the South. How the

[10:33] candidates are dealing with high anxiety

[10:36] in the south.

[10:36] >> Forces against Cuba in retaliation.

[10:39] >> The ultimate shrimp.

[10:40] >> Gigantic.

[10:41] >> That's ever so tender.

[10:43] >> Juicy and

[10:43] >> juicy. All I want is jumbo.

[10:46] >> You want it? Red Lobster's got it.

[10:48] Introducing the Jumbo Tiger Prawn. The

[10:51] biggest and best tasting shrimp we've

[10:53] ever served. So juicy, so tender, it's

[10:56] premium shrimp. The Jumbo Tiger Prawn at

[10:59] Red Lobster.

[11:00] >> Awesome.

[11:00] >> Can I have my shrimp, please? Right now,

[11:03] you can enjoy the jumbo tiger prawn

[11:04] feast at a special introductory price.

[11:07] >> I'm starved. Let's eat. Come on.

[11:09] >> This is a really beautiful day. Soup

[11:12] weather. There's this cream of chicken

[11:13] with vegetables from Healthy Choice. And

[11:15] that is rich stuff. Great big

[11:16] vegetables, lean chicken. Just makes you

[11:18] feel good. It only has 2 g of fat.

[11:20] Beautiful. With Healthy Choice, I can

[11:22] eat what I like.

[11:23] >> Raymond, you look constipated.

[11:25] >> Here we go.

[11:26] >> You should take Philip's milk of

[11:28] magnesium.

[11:28] >> Says who? For gentle overnight relief,

[11:30] doctors say they take Philips Milk of

[11:32] magnesia most. Raymond.

[11:36] >> Told you.

[11:36] >> Phillips. Doctors know best.

[11:39] >> Take a good look through Transitions

[11:41] Lenses. The lightweight plastic

[11:43] prescription lenses with a special tint

[11:46] that lightens and darkens as the light

[11:48] changes.

[11:49] Lightweight plastic lenses that darken

[11:52] and lighten just like that. It's comfort

[11:55] you can see day or night, outside or

[11:58] inside.

[12:00] Ask for Transitions Lenses.

[12:02] >> Call 18006806700

[12:05] for the Transitions Lenses eye care

[12:07] professional near you.

[12:09] >> NBC News in depth tonight. Presidential

[12:11] politics and the first battle for the

[12:14] hearts and minds of the South during

[12:15] this campaign in the region's first

[12:17] primary state South Carolina. You're

[12:20] looking now at a presidential rally at

[12:21] the University of South Carolina in

[12:23] Aken. Bob Dole, Steve Far, Steve Forbes,

[12:26] and Lamar Alexander are all scheduled to

[12:28] appear tonight. Earlier today, those

[12:31] three and Pat Buchanan debated, and as

[12:34] NBC's Lisa Myers tells us tonight, it

[12:37] was very much like hand-to-hand combat.

[12:39] >> They sparred over everything. Trade, the

[12:42] flat tax, even the Confederate flag. But

[12:44] the most heated exchanges came when the

[12:46] candidates were shown negative ads.

[12:49] their campaigns produced attacking each

[12:51] other.

[12:51] >> You know that's not true.

[12:52] >> It is spent.

[12:53] >> Pat Buchanan didn't like this recent

[12:55] duel ad targeting him.

[12:57] >> He's too extreme and he can't beat Bill

[12:59] Clinton.

[13:00] >> And Bob, it is a sign of the vapidity

[13:03] and the hollowess of your campaign that

[13:05] in your 72nd year as majority leader

[13:08] that you're running these kinds of ads.

[13:10] >> 11th year. Well, I just took it out of

[13:11] his columns and maybe they're not

[13:12] accurate. I always thought they were,

[13:14] but uh you know,

[13:16] >> Senator Dole, you you're one of our

[13:18] finest public servants.