by John P. McCarthy

About the author: John P. McCarthy has written about television and film for TV Guide, Daily Variety, Film Quarterly, and the British Journal of Aesthetics.

Contrary to press reports and spin by parties with vested interests, the summit on youth violence convened by President Clinton on May 10, 1999, was not a complete failure. It was the occasion for a breakthrough concerning the television industry. At that meeting the chairman of ABC, Bob Iger, reportedly said of his entertainment industry colleagues: “When the finger is pointed at them about violence, they say their media has no influence; but they turn around and say just the opposite to advertisers. We should all admit our media has an influence.”

At long last someone with real...