2 Networks to Fight Illiteracy, Hear Bennett Assail TV Viewing

Executives of two television networks, launching an unusual joint drive against adult illiteracy, heard Education Secretary William J. Bennett on Tuesday blame television for distracting children from reading.

The American Broadcasting Cos. and the Public Broadcasting Service Tuesday announced an unprecedented, multimillion-dollar joint effort to combat adult illiteracy, a problem affecting about 23 million Americans.

At least one executive bristled at Bennett’s charge that watching more than 10 to 12 hours of television a week hurts students’ academic performance and that the best readers usually watch less than six hours a week.

‘No Real Evidence’

James E. Duffy, president of communications for ABC, said: “There is no real evidence to show that television is part of the problem. . . . I don’t take too much credence in that statement.”

The networks’ campaign, called Project Literacy U.S., will include national broadcasts on both networks on the same night next September, coupled with community efforts to steer illiterates toward getting help.

A Bennett aide, who asked not to be identified, said ABC representatives tried to get Bennett to tone down his remarks after they saw his prepared statement Monday night.

But Bennett refused. In his speech, he said he would be “remiss” in his duty to parents if he did not say that “television can also be a diversion from reading. . . . The leisure time spent watching television can’t be spent doing things, like reading, that are more conducive to academic achievement.”

Documentary Scheduled

ABC News will run a documentary next September on the problems of the estimated 23 million functionally illiterate adult Americans. Immediately after the ABC show, PBS will broadcast a documentary by station WQED in Pittsburgh on strategies to combat illiteracy.

Both networks also will air public service announcements on illiteracy and spotlight the campaign in news and public affairs shows. ABC’s entertainment division is planning an illiteracy show as part of its “Afterschool Specials” series, and PBS will run a series called “The American Ticket” that KCET in Los Angeles is developing.

ABC will spend “millions and millions” on the outreach and programming and “millions and millions” on the public service announcements, Duffy said.