Newton N. Minow Professions : Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications CommissionBorn : January 17, 1926 Browse All Authors Top 9 quotes by Newton N. Minow In Germany, under the law, everything is prohibited, except that which is permitted. In France, under the law, everything is permitted, except that which is prohibited. In the Soviet Union, under the law, everything is prohibited, including that which is permitted. And in Italy, under the law, everything is permitted, especially that which is prohibited. Newton N. Minow politicalgovernmentlaw We've gotten to the point where everybody's got a right and nobody's got a responsibility. Newton N. Minow responsibility When television is good, nothing is better. When it's bad, nothing is worse. Newton N. Minow television Children will watch anything, and when a broadcaster uses crime and violence and other shoddy devices to monopolize a child's attention, it's worse than taking candy from a baby. It is taking precious time from the process of growing up. Newton N. Minow growing-upbabychildren Television is a vast wasteland. Newton N. Minow wastelandtelevision We need imagination in programming, not sterility; creativity, not imitation; experimentation, not conformity; excellence, not mediocrity. Television is filled with creative, imaginative people. You must strive to set them free. Newton N. Minow creativityimaginationpeople I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air . . . and keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that you will observe a great wasteland. Newton N. Minow eyeairgoes-on What do we mean by the public interest? Some say the public interest is merely what interests the public. I disagree. Newton N. Minow public-interestinterestmean When television is good, nothing - not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers - nothing is better. But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there for a day without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland. Newton N. Minow eyelossbook
