Abstract
The following letter, sent to the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (ABT), the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations (FACTS), a television channel and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), accompanies a petition containing the signatures of over 140 professionals (including child psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, family therapists, and others) working with emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children in the Sydney Metropolitan area. The petition calls on the ABT, FACTS and the ABC to: 1. ensure that no news items or promotions depicting violent scenes be put to air at or close to children's viewing times, and 2. that when violent scenes are televised, suitable warning is given to parents or guardians advising that the item contains scenes which may be disturbing to children.
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