CLINTON SUPPORTS ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS

PASADENA, Calif.--President Clinton said his drug adviser's effort to
insert anti-drug messages in prime-time television programs was not an
attempt to rob networks of creative freedom.

"There was no attempt to regulate content or tell people what they had to
put into it," he said Friday. "Of course, I wouldn't support that."

Fallout over the policy extended to California, where the bosses of several
studios said they were unaware that networks were offered financial
incentives if certain programs preached against drugs.

Five studio executives, responsible for shows like "ER," "The Simpsons" and
"The Drew Carey Show," objected to the idea.

"I think it's appalling," said Gail Berman, president of Regency
Television, which makes "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Roswell." "It's
inappropriate for government to participate in this way in the production
of television."

Peter Roth, president of Warner Brothers Television, which makes "ER" for
NBC, said neither he nor "ER" producer John Wells was aware of the
government's efforts. Roth said he would never demand his producers or
writers reflect a particular point of view on a social issue, even if there
were a financial benefit.

Clinton's drug advisers said they had consulted with "ER" writers, and even
said they believed a recent episode in which a teen-ager came into the
emergency room suffering from alcohol abuse was a result of their efforts.
The government spends millions of dollars each year to buy ads on network
TV for anti-drug public service announcements. Recently, it has been
forfeiting some of the ad time if the networks could prove they inserted
anti-drug messages into programs. That enables the networks to make more
money by selling ad time to other clients.

ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the WB have all acknowledged letting the White House
press office review the scripts of some of their programs.

Clinton said his drug office has done a good job of getting young people to
hear anti-drug messages, and that drug use is dropping as a result.

"I've talked to a lot of people in the entertainment community who like the
idea that, without compromising the integrity of their programs, they might
be involved in all kinds of public service efforts," he said.

Officials from Clinton's drug office were in Pasadena on Friday to release
a study that concludes television generally does better than movies or
music in depicting drug, alcohol and tobacco use responsibly. The study
encompassed a period in which the officials were quietly working with the
networks to get their message across.

David Kissinger, president of Studio USA, who oversees production of "Law &
Order" and "Xena: Warrior Princess," said he believed the cooperation
between the government and networks is both wrong and destined to be
ineffective.

"The best way for television shows to reflect values the society regards as
important is for the producers to actually care about them and not for the
government to impose it on them," he said.

Gary Newman, president of 20th Century Fox and responsible for "The
Simpsons" and "Ally McBeal," said he was unaware of the government's
efforts and opposed to them, as did Steve McPherson, executive vice
president of Touchstone Television, which produces "Sports Night" and
"Felicity."