`Political' interpretation
Sir: Mr Harry Theobalds of the IBA has not really made the Code on who or who cannot advertise on television logically ex- plicable (28 May) — even though it looks as if the Spectator will be admitted.
Mr Theobalds says that organisations whose objectives are 'political' or whose advertisements are 'political' cannot be allowed to advertise. In the past, Aims of Industry has pressed the IBA for a defini- tion of 'political' — and we have generally been told that it is something that relates to government. On these grounds government advertising should clearly be banned — as no organisation is so governmental!
Mr Theobalds also states that adver- tisements should not appear that are 'likely to be offensive to public feeling'. Some of the highly offensive anti-smoking adver- tisements must certainly be offensive to smokers who form a large section of the population; they are even offensive to a non-smoker like me.
Finally, Mr Theobalds does not say anything about free advertising — party political broadcasts. I can see no argument in a free democratic society for restricting advertisements to the parties. It would be much more sensible if television emulated newspapers as far as advertising practice is concerned.
Michael Ivens
Aims of Industry, 40 Doughty Street, London WCI
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