Code of Practices for Television Broadcasters

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The Code of Practices for Television Broadcasters was a set of ethical standards adopted by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) for television. The code was established on December 6, 1951. Compliance with the code was indicated by the "Seal of Good Practice," displayed during during closing credits on most United States television programs from 1952 through the early 1970s.

Seal of Good Practice as it appeared in 1958

The code prohibited the use of profanity, the negative portrayal of family life, irreverence for God and religion, illicit sex, drunkenness and addiction, presentation of cruelty, detailed techniques of crime, the use of horror for its own sake, the negative portrayal of law enforcement officials, among others. The code regulated how performers should dress and move to be within the "bounds of decency." Further, news reporting was to be "factual, fair and without bias" and commentary and analysis should be "clearly defined as such." Broadcasters were to make time available for religious broadcasting and were discouraged from charging religious bodies for access.^[1]

Under pressure from broadcasters, the code was suspended in the early 1980s.^[2]