WTF: Some Thoughts on the F-Word in the Ad Industry
Posted in: Uncategorized
The Federal Communications Commission has a very clear and simple guideline when it comes to profane words. According to an FAQ on its website: “What makes material profane? Profane language includes those words that are so highly offensive that their mere utterance in the context presented may, in legal terms, amount to a nuisance. In its Golden Globe Awards Order the FCC warned broadcasters that, depending on the context, it would consider the F-Word and those words (or variants thereof) that are as highly offensive as the F-Word to be profane language that cannot be broadcast between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.”
As for the newspaper industry, there is no federal oversight regarding profanity. Community standards, advertiser and agency sensibilities and editorial decorum set the tone and content.
But the Associated Press AP Stylebook does offer some guidance. Here is an excerpt:
Post a Comment