The Media Institute released a paper by Dr. Jonathan Freedman, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, entitled "Television Violence and Aggression: Setting the Record Straight." Dr. Freedman warns that the growing movement to limit television violence because of its supposed effect on children’s behavior cannot be justified by the body of existing research, which is actually "inconsistent, weak, and generally non-supportive."

Freedman describes different types of research: experimental studies, field experiments, longitudinal studies, and studies of communities with and without television. "Not one method has produced a clear majority of findings consistent with the idea that exposure to violent television makes people aggressive," Freedman concludes.

Citing the sharp decline in violent crime since 1992, Freedman poses a real-world test: "Legislators who are concerned about the harmful effects of television violence should ask themselves why, if television is so harmful, there is less violent crime now than there was when they were young."

The paper can be downloaded at The Media Institute's website.