Panel Urges Less Advertising On Children's T.V. Programs

Panelists at a national conference on children's television at the Graduate School of Education yesterday recommended more government involvement and less advertising in children's programming.

At the final session of the symposium of Action for Children's Television (ACT), speakers suggested censorship in advertising and advocated that the networks take responsibility for providing appropriate subject material for children.

State legislation should play a major role in protecting children form harmful effects of programming and commercials. Frank Mauro, New York State assemblyman, said yesterday.

"Even though most broadcasting issues are handled at the federal level, anything that concerns the health, safety or welfare of our people car be regulated by the state," he said.

Excessive violence on children's shows and misrepresentation of junk foods as nutritional supplements are examples of issues in which state governments should be involved. Mauro said.

Elimination of advertising from children's television programs was another recommendation from conference participants.

Because of pressure from ACT, major networks have already reduced advertising time during Saturday morning television by 40 per cent. Debra S. First, executive director of ACT, said yesterday.

Alan Pearce, a member of the Congressional subcommittee on communications, said yesterday this reduction had no impact on the total revenues generated by children's programming.

The sixth annual conference, which began Monday evening, attracted over 400 participants.