March 2005

Three hearings of note today: 1) Erate Oversight, 2) Obscenity Prosecution=
=20
and the Constitution (see story below), and 3) How Internet=20
Protocol-Enabled Services are Changing the Face of Communications: A Look=20
at the Voice Marketplace. We'll link you to more information -- for free!=20
-- is you click to http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm

MEDIA & SOCIETY
Viewer Beware
And Now, the Counterfeit News
Truth Is, Bush's Propaganda Hurts the U.S.
Judiciary Targets Gannon
Stop News Fraud
Senate Judiciary Contemplates Obscenity
Senator Suggests Targeting Net 'Indecency'

TELEVISION
Barton Targets DTV Bill for Spring
Comcast Users to Get TiVo Options That Go Beyond Generic DVRs

TELECOM
Antitrust Senators to Send Telecom Merger Conditions to DoJ
Florida Works to Kill Potential VoIP Tax

DIGITAL COPYRIGHT
More Arguments Sought in D.C. Appeals Suit on Broadcast Flag
Professor's Online Publishing Experiment

QUICKLY -- Reality TV Not so Real; Adjusting Your Digital TV; Arbiter of=20
Rap Trends or Promoter of Violence, Racism?; Family films outdrew R-rated=20
movies in '04; 3 States Move Toward Online Gambling; Liberty Media to Spin=
=20
Off Discovery Cable; Vodafone to Buy Cell Operator In Eastern Europe for=20
$3.5 Billion

MEDIA & SOCIETY

VIEWER BEWARE
[Commentary] What does Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show" have in common with=
=20
the Bush Administration? They're both unabashed about putting out fake=20
news. Although this Administration apparently isn't the first to use video=
=20
news releases, it seems more enamored of them than its predecessors. It's=20
humiliating that local news stations, however short-staffed and desperate=20
for footage, would run these releases without attribution to the=20
government. But it's disingenuous for administration officials to blame the=
=20
stations, given that many releases are crafted precisely to disguise their=
=20
government origin. This technique is both illegal and unwise. As a legal=20
matter, the prepackaged news releases run afoul of the prohibition on the=20
use of government funds for domestic "propaganda." The Administration's=20
interpretation -- it's okay to hide the source as long as the spot is=20
"purely informational" -- is untenable: Highlighting some "facts" and=20
leaving out others can be even more persuasive than outright advocacy,=20
which is why the administration chose this device. More important, this=20
kind of propaganda masquerading as news is a deceitful way for a democratic=
=20
government to do business; fake journalists paid by the government to=20
deliver its version of news are as disturbing as real commentators paid by=
=20
the government to tout its views. White House Press Secretary Scott=20
McClellan defended the video news releases on Monday as "an informational=20
tool to provide factual information to the American people." Nice=20
sentiment, but why, exactly, wouldn't the administration want to let the=20
people in on one of the most salient facts: who, really, is doing the=
talking?
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38596-2005Mar15.html
(requires registration)

AND NOW, THE COUNTERFEIT NEWS
[Commentary] The Bush administration has come under a lot of criticism for=
=20
its attempts to fob off government propaganda as genuine news reports.=20
Whether federal agencies are purchasing the services of supposedly=20
independent columnists or making videos extolling White House initiatives=20
and then disguising them as TV news reports, that's wrong. But it is time=20
to acknowledge that the nation's news organizations have played a large and=
=20
unappetizing role in deceiving the public. Too many television stations run=
=20
government videos without any hint of where they came from. And while some=
=20
claim they somehow stumbled accidentally into this trap, it seems obvious=20
that in most cases, television stations that are short on reporters, long=20
on air time to fill and unwilling to spend the money needed for real news=20
gathering are abdicating their editorial responsibilities to the=20
government's publicity teams. If using pretend news is one of the ways=20
these stations have chosen to save money, it's a false economy. If it=20
represents a political decision to support President Bush, it will=20
eventually backfire. This kind of practice cheapens the real commodity that=
=20
television stations have to sell during their news hours: their credibility.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/16/opinion/16wed1.html
(requires registration)
Also see 7 letters to the NYTimes editor under the heading "Hidden News and=
=20
Government Spin"
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/16/opinion/l16covert.html

TRUTH IS, BUSH PROPAGANDA HURTS THE US
[Commentary] Spin is nothing new in American politics, but the Bush=20
Administration has not contented itself with trying to influence the news.=
=20
It's in the business of producing the news itself, in the hopes of passing=
=20
it off as generic, third-party reporting. This is propaganda parading as=20
journalism, in the finest PRI (or Soviet) tradition. This clumsy branding=20
of George W. Bush's vision of America to Americans will not only backfire=20
at home, it invariably subverts efforts to brand America overseas. Public=20
candor and transparency are supposed to be one of the American brand's=20
distinguishing assets. Because the administration insists on operating in=20
its imagined version of reality, the U.S. and American credibility begin to=
=20
look rather commonplace =AD and unreliable =AD to the world. You can imagine=
=20
how many conspiracy theories are fed and validated on the streets of Cairo=
=20
and Tehran when word gets out that U.S. government agencies produce their=20
own propagandistic "news" reports.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Andres Martinez]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-martinez16mar16,1...
2746.story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)

JUDICIARY TARGETS GANNON
The House Judiciary Committee plans to mark up a bill Wednesday targeting=20
the vetting process, or lack thereof, that allowed James Guckert (under the=
=20
name of Jeff Gannon) to become a credentialed White House reporter. The=20
bill, H. Res 136, would give the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland=
=20
Security two weeks to turn over documents relating to, among other things,=
=20
the security checks Guckert/Gannon went through, who, if anyone, at the=20
Secret Service was supposed to have done a background check on Gannon, and=
=20
any phone records, mail, e-mail, or faxes between Guckert/Gannon and the=20
Secret Service. Among the raft of Democratic House members sponsoring the=20
bill are Californians Henry Waxman and George Miller. Rep Miller has been=20
one of the lead critics of administration pay-for-play PR policies, VNRs=20
and other attempts to influence public opinion through quasi-journalism
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA511178?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

STOP NEWS FRAUD
State-run media=94 is a phrase normally reserved for regimes such as North=
=20
Korea that manipulate and censor all public information. Media in the=20
United States were thought to be free of such autocratic control, but=20
recent maneuvers by the Bush administration should make all of us stand up=
=20
and take notice. After recent revelations that several =93journalists=94=
have=20
been working as propagandists on the White House payroll, more are=20
beginning to wonder how free America=92s press actually is. Read the=
in-depth=20
Free Press report on the Bush administration's efforts to manipulate the=20
press and the American public at http://freepress.net/propaganda/. If you=20
are angry and just can't take it anymore, take action to force the White=20
House to account for millions in taxpayer money spent to spread propaganda=
=20
at http://www.freepress.net/action/fakenews.
[SOURCE: Free Press]

SENATE JUDICIARY CONTEMPLATES OBSCENITY
Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), a foe of cable porn and broadcast indecency,=
=20
has sponsored legislation that would call for federally funded research=20
into the possibly addictive effects of pornography. He'll preside over a=20
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today on obscenity. There is a growing=20
sentiment in Congress that one way to ban cable porn, which is not subject=
=20
to the FCC indecency restrictions, would be to go after it on obscenity=20
grounds.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA511179?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

SENATOR SUGGESTS TARGETING NET 'INDECENCY'
Sen. Ted Stevens, the influential chairman of the Senate Committee on=20
Commerce, Science & Transportation, has indicated that Internet decency=20
regulations could be inserted into legislation that was originally intended=
=20
to boost fines for off-color radio and TV broadcasts. "It looks like=20
Stevens is talking about some sort of ratings system for the Internet,"=20
said Marv Johnson, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties=20
Union. "But you really can't have the FCC or the federal government be the=
=20
taste police for the American citizens. It's just not going to work." One=20
explanation for Sen Stevens' remarks is that he's worried about the trend=20
of movies and TV shows being offered for download over the Internet, which=
=20
places the material outside the purview of the FCC. "I think Stevens is=20
probably laying the groundwork for another assault on speech online," said=
=20
Adam Thierer, a senior fellow at the free-market Progress & Freedom=20
Foundation. "He's obviously pointing the way to other members of Congress,=
=20
saying that if they want to control the media, they have to start at cable=
=20
and satellite first, and then target the Internet...This foreshadows the=20
coming debate we'll have over IP-enabled services in the video space."
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
http://news.com.com/Senator+suggests+targeting+Net+indecency/2100-1028_3...
8332.html?tag=3Dnefd.top

TELEVISION

BARTON TARGETS DTV BILL FOR SPRING
At the Consumer Electronics Association's annual HDTV Summit in Washington,=
=20
House Commerce Committee chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) said Tuesday that he=20
plans to introduce his long-awaited digital-TV legislation "sometime in the=
=20
spring," and he expects to move it though the House by early summer. He=20
revealed few details of the bill, which he said are still being worked out=
=20
with House Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and=20
the ranking Democrats on the panels, John Dingell (MI) and Ed Markey (MA).=
=20
He did let the audience know what his preferences are: a Dec. 31, 2006,=20
deadline for making TV stations go all-digital and reclaiming their old=20
analog channels; no "multicast must carry" on cable for digital=20
broadcasters; and $400 million to $500 million in subsidies to make=20
digital-to-analog convertor boxes more affordable for low-income=20
households. Rep Barton estimates revenues from auction of returned spectrum=
=20
could reach $4-$17 billion.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA510868?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA511015.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
In a related story, farmers no like Dec 2006 hard date. See:
Farmers Concerned About Analog-TV Cutoff
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA511119.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

COMCAST USERS TO GET TIVO OPTIONS THAT GO BEYOND GENERIC DVRs
TiVo has a shot at becoming a mainstream household gadget with the=20
announcement of a partnership with cable giant Comcast. The nation's=20
largest cable company will make a version of TiVo's service available as an=
=20
option to Comcast's cable subscribers, which number 21.5 million. The=20
companies said the TiVo service for Comcast subscribers may include a=20
variety of features that go well beyond those in generic DVRs, including=20
the ability to display digital photographs and play music. and to download=
=20
video from the Internet. The companies expect to offer the TiVo service,=20
which will run on existing Comcast digital video recorders made by Motorola=
=20
and others, during the second half of next year.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Nick Wingfield nick.wingfield( at )wsj.com=
=20
and Peter Grant peter.grant( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111089847979879900,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_personal_journal
(requires subscription)
NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/16/technology/16tivo.html
LATimes:=20
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-tivo16mar16,1,5170783...
ry?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

TELECOM

ANTITRUST SENATORS TO SEND TELECOM MERGER CONDITIONS TO DOJ
At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday on proposed telecom=20
mergers, Senators said Congress must make sure consumers are adequately=20
protected from the tremendous acquisition of power=94 of a combined SBC-AT&T=
=20
and Verizon-MCI. Wisconsin Democrat Sen Kohl promised the antitrust=20
subcommittee would send =93pro-competitive merger condition=94=
recommendations=20
to the Justice Department and FCC =93in coming weeks.=94 One possible merger=
=20
condition was proposed: the merged companies should have to sell DSL=20
without requiring a subscription to standard phone service.Antitrust=20
Subcommittee Chairman DeWine (R-OH) said the
mergers should raise more concern than expressed. =93These deals have=20
received an unusual reception in the press and within the industry -- an=20
unusually friendly reception and one that I'm not sure is wholly deserved,=
=94=20
he said. =93A quick analysis, whatever the outcome, in not enough. And in=20
fact, I think that certainly there are some antitrust
issues that require more thorough examination.=94 Sen Kohl added, =93We must=
=20
seek to avoid the creation of a world where consumers are left with only=20
two choices for a bundle of telecom services -- the Baby Bell phone company=
=20
and the cable company.=94
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane]
(Not available online)
See WashPost coverage:=20
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38649-2005Mar15.html
Communications Daily also reports that the six largest competitors to the=20
Baby Bells -- XO, Savvis, Eschelon Telecom, Cbeyond, Covad, and Broadwing=20
-- have formed a as yet unnamed body to challenge the proposed Verizon-MCI=
=20
and SBC-AT&T mergers.
See more on that in=20
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38353-2005Mar15.html
See also:
SBC, Verizon Chiefs Vow No VoIP Blocking
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA511171.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

FLORIDA WORKS TO KILL POTENTIAL VOIP TAX
The State House of Representatives voted unanimously in favor of repealing=
=20
part of a communications tax on businesses that run their own networks. The=
=20
complex tax dates back to telecommunications deregulation in the 1980s. The=
=20
statute was originally meant to tax businesses that bypassed the local=20
telephone network by establishing their own communications networks. While=
=20
it was originally written with technologies such as satellite and microwave=
=20
in mind, critics have argued that it could be applied to businesses=20
carrying voice traffic over Internet data networks, as well as individual=20
customers of companies like Vonage that provide voice over Internet=20
Protocol services, which route phone calls over the less-expensive,=20
less-regulated Internet. Critics also argue that the language of the=20
so-called "Substitute Communications Tax" could be applied to businesses=20
with networked computers, two-way radios and wireless dispatch systems. The=
=20
bill moves now to the Florida Senate.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon]
http://news.com.com/Florida+works+to+kill+potential+VoIP+tax/2100-7352_3...
8272.html?tag=3Dnefd.top

DIGITAL COPYRIGHT

MORE ARGUMENTS SOUGHT IN DC APPEALS SUIT ON BROADCAST FLAG
More written arguments are required before the U.S. Appeals Court, DC, can=
=20
decide =93conclusively=94 whether a coalition of consumer and library groups=
=20
that challenged the FCC=92s authority to impose broadcast flag rules have=
the=20
=93Article III standing=94 to do so, the court ruled Tuesday. Petitioners=20
challenging the Commission=92s standing include Consumer Federation of=20
America, Consumers Union, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Public Knowledge,=
=20
the American Library Assn., the Assn. of Research Libraries, the American=20
Assn. of Law Libraries, the Medical Library Assn. and the Special Libraries=
=20
Assn. The court gave the petitioners 2 weeks to file affidavits, and a=20
brief of no more than 4,000 words, answering questions to determine their=20
qualifications to challenge the FCC=92s authority on broadcast flag. For=20
example, the court said, the petitioners must explain whether the broadcast=
=20
flag will hinder the groups=92 ability to =93engage in otherwise permissible=
=20
copying and distribution of television broadcasts to distant locations and,=
=20
if so, in precisely what way such hindrance is likely to occur.=94 The court=
=20
said the petitioners must identify the =93relevant member or members=94 at=
risk=20
=93and describe the precise nature of the injury that will be caused by the=
=20
FCC=92s adoption of the broadcast flag regime.=94
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Paul Gluckman]
(Not available online)
See coverage in Broadcasting&Cable:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA511177?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

PROFESSOR'S ONLINE PUBLISHING EXPERIMENT
Further nudging outward the boundaries of online publishing, Stanford=20
University Professor Larry Lessig will put his 1999 book "Code'' online=20
today and invite Internet users to help him write an updated version. A=20
noted copyright expert and proponent of free software, Prof Lessig is=20
putting the 297-page treatise about technology, culture and regulation on=20
the Web in the form of a ``wiki,'' a site that can allow people to freely=20
edit its contents. The law professor will take the contributions at=20
http://codebook.jot .com and edit them into a printed version of the book.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Michael Bazeley]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/11148136.htm

QUICKLY

ONE SHOW'S UNEXPECTED LESSONS IN REALITY
A look at the "unreality" of reality TV.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jacques Steinberg]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/16/arts/television/16swap.html
(requires registration)

DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET
Although today's high-definition TVs render dazzling, theater-quality=20
pictures, the technology inside has become mind-bogglingly complex. An=20
improperly adjusted set can produce jaundiced, hazy, lifeless images.=20
Reenter a 1950s-era practice: house calls by technicians to calibrate for=20
the best picture.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR:Alex Pham]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-goldeneyes16mar16,1...
5051.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage
(requires registration)

AN ARBITER OF HIP-HOP FINDS ITSELF TARGET
Recent events involving New York's Hot 97 FM have critics contending that=20
the radio station has tilted from credible arbiter of rap trends to=20
ratings-hungry promoter of violence and racism.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Lola Ogunnaike & Jeff Leeds]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/16/arts/music/16hot.html
(requires registration)

FAMILY FILMS OUTDREW R-RATED MOVIES IN '04
For the first time in two decades, PG-rated films outperformed R-rated=20
films in theaters, even though Hollywood cranks out many more movies aimed=
=20
at adults. Last year, PG-rated films took in $2.3 billion in U.S. ticket=20
sales, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners. R-rated=20
movies, which require that anyone younger than 17 be accompanied by an=20
adult, accounted for $2.1 billion
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20050316/d_undergrids16.art.htm

3 STATES MOVE TOWARD LEGALIZING ONLINE GAMBLING
North Dakota, Illinois and Georgia are edging toward legalizing online=20
gambling, and Great Britain is on the verge of permitting its land-based=20
casinos to take bets online from U.S. citizens.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:Jon Swartz]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20050316/1b_cybergaming16.art...

LIBERTY MEDIA TO SPIN OFF DISCOVERY CABLE
Liberty Media is spinning off its stakes in Discovery Communications and=20
Ascent Media Group, as John Malone reshapes his vast holdings in a bid to=20
prove they should be valued higher.
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeffrey Goldfarb]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DtopNews&storyID=3D7907132
WashPost:=
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38667-2005Mar15.html
WSJ:=20
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111089119771179790,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/16/business/media/16liberty.html
LATimes:=20
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-liberty16mar16,1,5629...
story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

VODAPHONE BUYS IN EASTERN EUROPE
Vodafone said Tuesday it will buy Telesystem International Wireless Inc.'s=
=20
operations in the Czech Republic and Romania for about $3.5 billion in=20
cash. The world's largest cellphone-service provider agreed to acquire 79%=
=20
of Mobifon SA in Romania -- boosting its ownership to 99% -- and all of=20
Oskar Mobil in the Czech Republic. Vodafone Group will assume about $900=20
million in debt as part of the deal.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111089460221779821,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_money_and_investing
(requires subscription)
NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/16/business/worldbusiness/16tele.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------

This week's agenda includes 1) telecom mergers, 2) the E-rate, 3) Internet=
=20
telephone services, 4) Obscenity and 5) telecom reform legislation. For=20
upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm

JOURNALISM
Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged TV News
The State of the News Media 2005
Apple Can Seek Sources of Articles
Hands Off the Web, Bloggers and Lawmakers Say
Can Papers End the Free Ride Online?
Poll: Most Americans want More Open Government
The Ten O'Clock News

LOBBYING/OWNERSHIP
The Media Lobby
GE, Disney Battle Time Warner, Comcast Over Digital Television

CONTENT
Target: Pay TV's Wild Side
Stevens Floats Cable Ratings, Tiering System
CREW Labels Legislators Porn Hypocrites
The New Content Commissars
FTC, HHS Convene Self-Reg Powwow
Kids TV's Health Kick
The Great Kids Debate
Everything Old Is New Again

TELECOM
Report Proposes Reforming Telecommunications Regulation
Europe, U.S. Separated by Telephone Cultures
For Telecoms in Europe, Turf Battles Are Escalating
Cellphone use Booms, Despite uneven Service
Burke: Comcast Not Blocking VoIP Foes

QUICKLY -- Powell to Join Aspen Institute; Staff Changes at FCC; Clearing=20
up the HDTV picture; Training Closed Captioners; Internet taxes; James=20
Kennedy's Christian Media Crusade

JOURNALISM

UNDER BUSH, A NEW AGE OF PREPACKAGED TV NEWS
Under the Bush administration, the federal government has aggressively used=
=20
a well-established tool of public relations: the prepackaged,=20
ready-to-serve news report that major corporations have long distributed to=
=20
TV stations to pitch everything from headache remedies to auto insurance.=20
In all, at least 20 federal agencies, including the Defense Department and=
=20
the Census Bureau, have made and distributed hundreds of television news=20
segments in the past four years, records and interviews show. Many were=20
subsequently broadcast on local stations across the country without any=20
acknowledgement of the government's role in their production.
[SOURCE: New York Times 3/13, AUTHOR: David Barstow & Robin Stein]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/politics/13covert.html?
(requires registration)

THE STATE OF THE NEWS MEDIA 2005
In a 617-page report, the Project for Excellence in Journalism found=20
that 73 percent of the stories on Fox News covering the Iraq war last year=
=20
included the opinions of the anchors and journalists reporting them. By=20
contrast, 29 percent of the war reports on MSNBC and 2 percent of those on=
=20
CNN included the journalists' own views. The report found that "Fox is more=
=20
deeply sourced than its rivals," while CNN is "the least transparent about=
=20
its sources of the three cable channels, but more likely to present=20
multiple points of view." The project describes cable news reporting as=20
pretty thin compared with the ABC, NBC and CBS evening newscasts. Only a=20
quarter of the cable stories examined contained two or more identifiable=20
sources, compared with 49 percent of network evening news stories and 81=20
percent of newspaper front-page stories. This, says the study, is in part=20
because cable leans heavily on live reports, 60 percent of which are based=
=20
on only a single identifiable source ("the White House said today," etc.).=
=20
What's more, cable news is far more one-sided than other media outlets,=20
with only a quarter of the stories involving controversy making more than a=
=20
passing reference to a second point of view. By contrast, says the report,=
=20
the network morning shows, PBS and newspaper front pages were more than=20
three times as likely to contain a mix of views.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32631-2005Mar13.html
(requires registration)
See --
* The State of the News Media 2005 at:=20
http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2005/index.asp
* Report: Non-traditional media gain ground, consumers:=20
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20050314/d_mediamix14.art.htm
* Study Warns of Junk-News Diet:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-media14mar14,1,7...
44.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section

APPLE CAN SEEK SOURCES OF ARTICLES
Judge James P. Kleinberg of California superior court in Santa Clara County=
=20
denied a request by a trio of online "bloggers," who operate Web sites=20
devoted to Apple news and rumors, to block Apple from obtaining documents=20
that might reveal who was leaking confidential company information. The=20
bloggers -- Monish Bhatia, Kasper Jade and Jason O'Grady -- published=20
articles late last year on several Web sites, including PowerPage and=20
AppleInsider, about an Apple device code-named Asteroid designed to link=20
musical instruments with Apple software. Apple is seeking e-mail messages=20
and other documents related to the Apple product from Nfox.com, the e-mail=
=20
service provider for PowerPage. The case has attracted intense interest=20
because the bloggers have argued that they are journalists, and should be=20
protected under federal and state laws from having to reveal their sources=
=20
of information. In his ruling, Judge Kleinberg said the journalistic status=
=20
of the bloggers, in essence, doesn't matter. Instead, he accepted Apple's=20
argument that the stories contained trade secrets that, in effect, were=20
stolen property, not unlike a physical item such as a laptop containing=20
confidential information.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Nick Wingfield nick.wingfield( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111057284957077375,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_marketplace
(requires subscription)
Also see --
* Apple should think differently about blogger suits:=20
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/11110787.htm

HANDS OFF THE WEB, BLOGGERS AND LAWMAKERS SAY
In separate letters on Friday, Democratic lawmakers and Internet=20
commentators urged the Federal Election Commission to make sure that=20
political Web sites that serve as focal points for political discussion --=
=20
like Wonkette.com and Freerepublic.com -- don't have to comply with=20
campaign-finance rules.
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Andy Sullivan]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=3D7...
22
See also --
* Liberal Bloggers Reaching Out to Major Media
Traditional journalists largely ignored bloggers when they emerged, but=20
have begun to take note of their influence as online commentators assumed=20
roles in news stories like the flaws in the report by "60 Minutes=20
Wednesday" on President Bush's National Guard service and the comments by=20
the former CNN chief, Eason Jordan, about the military's treatment of=20
journalists in Iraq. Now a group of bloggers is trying to use old-fashioned=
=20
telephone conference calls to share their ideas with newspaper and=20
television journalists.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jonathan Glater]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/14/technology/14blog.html
(requires registration)

CAN NEWSPAPERS END FREE RIDE ONLINE?
Newspaper Web sites have been so popular that at some newspapers, including=
=20
The New York Times, the number of people who read the paper online now=20
surpasses the number who buy the print edition. But even though consumers=20
are willing to spend millions of dollars on the Web when it comes to music=
=20
services like iTunes and gaming sites like Xbox Live, when it comes to=20
online news, they are happy to read it but loath to pay for it.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Katharine]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/14/business/media/14paper.html
(requires registration)

POLL: MOST AMERICAN WANT MORE OPEN GOVERNMENT
A new poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs for Sunshine Week found that=20
more than half of Americans say government should provide more access to=20
its records. Even more -- 70% -- are either =93somewhat concerned=94 or=
=93very=20
concerned=94 about government secrecy. Nearly as many said access to public=
=20
records was =93crucial=94 to good government.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Robert Tanner, Associated Press]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050314/a_sunshine14.art.htm
For more on Sunshine Week see:=
http://www.sunshineweek.org/sunshineweek/about

THE TEN O'CLOCK NEWS
While it is relatively easy to find old sitcoms and variety programs in a=20
variety of media formats, it is somewhat difficult to find news broadcasts=
=20
that may be of seminal interest to any number of researchers, including=20
historians or other social scientists. Working with funds provided by the=20
Institute of Museum and Library Services, this collection created by the=20
WGBH Media Archives and Preservation Center includes video clips of these=20
original newscasts which date from 1974 to 1991. The collection focuses on=
=20
news stories which relate directly to Boston's African-American community=20
and may be browsed by categories such as personal name or geographic=20
location. Some of the topics covered by these video clips include the=20
desegregation of the Boston public school system, race relations in the=20
city, and interviews with such notable African-American leaders as Julian=20
Bond and Andrew Young.
http://main.wgbh.org/ton/

LOBBYING/OWNERSHIP

THE MEDIA LOBBY
A big story that has hushed the notebooks of reporters, the waxing of=20
columnists and the demands of editorials is the story of how the media is=20
entangled and interconnected with politicians (its supposed regulators)=20
corporate interests and, binding them all together: lobbyists. The simple=20
fact is, objective journalists are not supposed to be proactive on issues,=
=20
which is the definition of lobbying. "It is the subject of the least=20
journalistic scrutiny," says Peter Hart of the media watchdog Fairness &=20
Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR). Asking a media outlet to report on its parent=
=20
company's lobbying expenditures and the goals associated with such=20
spending, gives new meaning to "conflict of interest." Considering other=20
options, such as one medium reporting on another's lobbying interests,=20
would only invite scrutiny, which is called, in an economist's terms,=20
collusion. And so the story goes unreported in mainstream media as if, it=20
is not only unimportant, it is nonexistent.
[SOURCE: AlterNet, AUTHOR: Alexander Lynch]
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21477/
See also --
* Gannett Gains Approval To Buy Publisher
The Justice Department's antitrust division has closed a review of=20
Gannett's purchase of HomeTown Communications Network. The purchase of the=
=20
Michigan-based community newspaper publisher gives the nation's largest=20
news chain a tighter grip in suburban markets in Michigan and Ohio.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Associated Press]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111076015204378214,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_marketplace
(requires subscription)

GE, DISNEY BATTLE TIME WARNER, COMCAST OVER DIGITAL TELEVISION
As the battle over digital TV must-carry moves to Congress, a look at the=20
competing interests of broadcasters -- like General Electric and Walt=20
Disney -- and cable operators -- Comcast and Time Warner. The battle=20
illustrates the shifting balance of power within the television industry.=20
In the past, the broadcasters have largely gotten their way on Capitol=20
Hill, defeating efforts to charge them for use of digital spectrum and=20
blocking bills that would have required them to offer cut-rate or free time=
=20
to political candidates. The fight over the digital channels may be the=20
biggest challenge yet to the broadcast industry's clout, said James=20
Thurber, director of American University's Center for Congressional and=20
Presidential Studies in Washington. "The marketplace is giving cable=20
television much more power than it had in the past; it means the broadcast=
=20
people have less power,'' Thurber said. "It is always more difficult for=20
Congress to act than to delay, and to affirmatively act in favor of this=20
issue is going to be difficult'' when there are other issues on the agenda=
=20
like Social Security and taxes.
[SOURCE: Bloomberg, AUTHOR: Jonathan D. Salant jsalant( at )bloomberg.net]
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D10000103&sid=3DaCuGiuSfIYq0&refer=
=3Dus

CONTENT

TARGET: PAY TV'S WILD SIDE
With newly appointed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales making the=20
prosecution of obscenity cases a priority for the Justice Department, cable=
=20
and satellite operators face a looming threat to their estimated $800=20
million in revenues from adult entertainment. But the landscape of cable=20
and satellite programming itself-- from the bawdy humor on Comedy Central=20
to the softcore fare on late-night HBO and Cinemax -- is also subject to=20
attack as Congress contemplates revising the rules that have essentially=20
given pay TV carte blanche to show anything, at any time.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA510326?display=3DNews&referra...
SUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

STEVENS FLOATS CABLE RATINGS, TIERING SYSTEM
In a new proposal, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens=20
(R-Alaska) said Friday that he is looking to the cable industry to rate=20
programming for indecent content and perhaps segregate that content on=20
separately purchased tiers. Sen Stevens said it would be acceptable for him=
=20
if the cable industry crafted the system that could then be codified in law=
=20
-- noting that this is what happened in the movie industry. =93We ought to=
=20
find some way to say, =91Here is a block of channels,=92 -- whether it=92s=
=20
delivered by broadband, by VoIP [voice over Internet protocol], by whatever=
=20
it is, to a home -- =91that is clear of the stuff you don't want your=20
children to see,=92=94 Sen Stevens said. He Stevens is planning to move his=
=20
cable legislation in committee when the Senate returns from the Easter=20
recess in the first week in April.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA510317.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA510318?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

CREW LABELS LEGISLATORS PORN HYPOCRITES
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is labeling 15 members=
=20
of Congress as hypocrites for waging public campaigns against pornography=20
while taking campaign contributions from cable companies, hotel chains and=
=20
phone companies that profit from X-rated entertainment. According to CREW,=
=20
the top recipient of "porn profits" is House Telecom Chairman Fred Upton=20
(R-MI), whose campaign received $56,000 from companies that earn some=20
portion of their revenue from adult entertainment. Others include Sens.=20
John McCain (R-AZ), $46,000, and Sam Brownback (R-KS), $17,000, who will=20
preside over a Judiciary Committee on prosecuting obscenity Wednesday.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA510261?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

THE NEW CONTENT COMMISSARS
[Commentary] At a time when the Bush administration is paying pundits to=20
toe the party line while an unchecked FCC has embarked on a program of=20
fining content on an ad hoc basis, the last thing the American media needs=
=20
is more regulation by a few self-appointed moral arbiters who don't even=20
seem to understand the technology =96 or the content =96 they appear intent=
on=20
banning.
[SOURCE: Center for American Progress, AUTHOR: Eric Alterman]
http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=3DbiJRJ8OVF&b=3D446251

FTC, HHS CONVENE SELF-REG POWWOW
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Health and Human=20
Services will hold a two-day conference in Washington, D.C., this summer to=
=20
discuss media self-regulation of the marketing of food and beverages. FTC=
=20
Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras announced the conference in a speech Friday=
=20
to the Consumer Federation of America. Majoras said the initiative will=20
"take a snapshot of the current state of food and beverage marketing to=20
children, review existing self-regulatory efforts, and discuss best=20
practices by companies." The workshop is in response to a childhood=20
obesity study by the Institute of Medicine that called for such a=
conference.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA510073?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

KIDS TV'S HEALTH KICK
Kids cable networks have a new message for their young viewers: It is cool=
=20
to be fit. As the debates on healthful eating, children's obesity and=20
responsible advertising rage in Washington and with nervous advertisers on=
=20
Madison Avenue, kids TV networks are trying to tackle the issue as well.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Allison Romano and Anne Becker]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA510327?display=3DSpecial+Repo...
eferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

THE GREAT KIDS DEBATE
How are Latino children best served by television programming -- by=20
primarily English-speaking shows like Dora the Explorer, Maya & Miguel and=
=20
Mucha Lucha or by Spanish-language kids shows. The answer is up for debate.=
=20
About 40% of all Latinos are under the age of 21 versus 30% for the general=
=20
population. In 2002 a survey found that Hispanic kids ages 2 to 11 spent=20
about 80% of their time watching English-language programming.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: George Winslow]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA510087.html?display=3DSpecial+Repo...
eferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN
Marketers are reviving yesterday's beloved characters -- from Looney Tunes=
=20
to Strawberry Shortcake, to Care Bears, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Thomas=
=20
the Tank Engine -- to rekindle fond memories from adults -- and win the=20
hearts of today's kids.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Paige Albiniak]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA510332.html?display=3DSpecial...
ort&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

TELECOM

REPORT PROPOSES REFORMING TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION
The Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program (C&S) issued a new=20
report last week suggesting the need for statutory or regulatory reform in=
=20
the telecommunications sector, focusing specifically on rural=20
telecommunications, universal service and inter-carrier compensation=20
issues. The report summarizes the recommendations of 31 leading=20
telecommunications industry experts from business, government, finance and=
=20
academia. Authored by North Carolina State University professor Robert M.=20
Entman, the report found general agreement that the technological advances=
=20
and marketing of telecommunications have outstripped the current regulatory=
=20
scheme. Proposing a major revision of the Communications Act, the report=20
suggests that the competition among broadband DSL, cable modems and other=20
players such as wireless broadband providers will render much of the=20
current regulation unnecessary. As a first step in the revision process,=20
participants suggested an interim transitional scheme toward deregulation=20
of basic telecommunications, revising the current method for universal=20
service subsidies, and changing the way regulators look at rural=20
communications.
[SOURCE: Aspen Institute Press Release]
http://www.aspeninstitute.org/index.asp?bid=3D20343&i=3D87
Reforming Telecommunications Regulation
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/AspenInstitute/files/ccLibraryFiles/FILEN...
000000001502/TelecomReport.pdf

EUROPE, US SEPARATED BY TELEPHONE CULTURES
Europeans and Americans differ in the way they use telephones -- in part=20
because of decisions made by regulators. Americans talk more. Europeans=20
give out their cell phone number and put them on their business cards.=20
Americans traditionally have paid to receive mobile phone calls and tend to=
=20
be less free about giving out cell phone numbers. American mobile=20
subscribers get an allotment of minutes for a monthly fee and competition=20
led to packages offering free nationwide calls nights and weekends.=20
Europeans buy more limited packages -- especially geographically. Europeans=
=20
buy their own phones and easily switch phone companies or numbers by=20
swapping tiny SIM card chips. So travelers sometimes buy inexpensive SIM=20
cards to use abroad, receiving calls for free on a new, local number.
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: David Lawsky]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=3DLJ2TOVTXS2PUMCRBAE...
Y?type=3DtechnologyNews&storyID=3D7884988

FOR TELECOMS IN EUROPE, TURF BATTLES ARE ESCALATING
Across Europe, phone companies are challenging one another outside of their=
=20
home bases - Telecom Italia in France and Germany, for instance, and BT=20
Group of Britain in Italy and Spain. This month, their gradual push abroad=
=20
could get a jump start as Tiscali, the financially troubled Italian=20
Internet service provider, seeks to sell its French unit.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Eric Sylvers]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/14/business/worldbusiness/14telecom.html
(requires registration)

CELLPHONE USE BOOMS, DESPITE UNEVEN SERVICE
By the end of 2004, the number of wireless subscribers in the USA surpassed=
=20
180.5 million, up 21.7 million from 2003, according to estimates to be=20
unveiled today by CTIA, the wireless trade association. In sheer numbers,=20
that makes 2004 the second-highest-growth year for the industry. Annual=20
wireless-service revenue topped $102 billion. The wireless industry kicks=20
off its annual convention in New Orleans today.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:Edward C. Baig]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20050314/2b_wireless14.art.htm
Also see --
* New Orleans to host annual cell phone expo:=20
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/11129516.htm

BURKE: COMCAST NOT BLOCKING VOIP FOES
Comcast chief operating officer Steve Burke said Friday that the cable=20
company does not and will not block competing voice-over-Internet-protocol=
=20
providers from serving its cable-modem customers. According to a published=
=20
report, Vonage -- a leading non-facilities-based VoIP provider with more=20
than 500,000 customers -- is complaining that a cable company is blocking=20
access.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA510260.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

QUICKLY

POWELL TO JOIN ASPEN INSTITUTE
The Aspen Institute announced Friday that Michael Powell, outgoing chairman=
=20
of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is to become senior fellow=
=20
of the Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program for a three-month=
=20
period effective upon his departure from the FCC. Powell is the third=20
consecutive FCC Chairman to join the Aspen Institute following his=20
chairmanship. He will advise the Communications and Society Program on=20
leadership, communications policy, and program activities and operations.=20
Judith Mann will also move from the FCC to the Institute as Powell=92s=20
confidential assistant. You may contact Chairman Powell through Ms. Mann at=
=20
judy.mann( at )aspeninstitute.org or 202-736-1492.
[SOURCE: Aspen Institute Press Release]
http://www.aspeninstitute.org/index.asp?bid=3D20532&i=3D87

STAFF CHANGES AT FCC
FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell named Robert Pepper to be Acting Chief of=20
the Commission's Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis (OSP),=20
effective March 14, 2005. Pepper is the Commission's Chief of Policy=20
Development, a position he has held since March 2003. As Chief, Policy=20
Development, Pepper is responsible for providing strategic advice to the=20
Chairman and Commissioners on industry and policy developments,=20
particularly on issues that cut across traditional industry and=20
institutional boundaries as a result of technological developments and=20
convergence. Among other responsibilities, he co-chairs the Commission's=20
Internet Policy Working Group. In addition, Chairman Powell announced that=
=20
Linda Blair will return to her position as Deputy Chief of the Enforcement=
=20
Bureau. Blair has been serving as Acting Chief of OSP on an interim basis=20
since October 2004. Finally, John Muleta, Chief of the Wireless=20
Telecommunications Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission, has=20
announced his plans to leave the Commission at the end of March 2005.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257359A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257340A1.doc

CLEARING UP THE HDTV PICTURE
Consumers return more HDTV sets than analog sets -- mainly because the=20
picture quality they see in the store does not match what they see when=20
they get it home. Find out why.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Richard Shim ]
http://news.com.com/Clearing+up+the+HDTV+picture/2100-1041_3-5609311.htm...
g=3Dnefd.top

LEGISLATION TO AID TRAINING OF REALTIME WRITERS
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today=20
approved by voice vote the "Training for Realtime Writers Act" (S. 268),=20
introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and co-sponsored by Senators=20
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV),=20
Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and Bill Nelson (D-Florida). The legislation: 1)=20
Authorizes a new grant program that would encourage the training of closed=
=20
captioners. Under FCC rules, all English language television broadcasts=20
must be captioned by 2006 and Spanish language broadcasts by 2010, 2)=20
Authorizes funding levels at $20 million per year for fiscal years=20
2006-2009, 3) Targets grant awards for use in supporting curriculum=20
development, student recruitment, scholarships, training, distance=20
learning, and job placement. Funding would not supplant current federal and=
=20
non-federal funds obtained by the grantee. The Committee accepted an=20
amendment by Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) that placed the program under the=20
jurisdiction of the Commerce Department broadly as opposed to the National=
=20
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) specifically (as=20
outlined in the original bill), established a firm sunset date of 2009 for=
=20
the program, determined a specific authorization level of $20 million for=20
fiscal years 2006-2009, and set an administrative cost cap of 5%.
[SOURCE: US Senate Press Release]
http://commerce.senate.gov/newsroom/printable.cfm?id=3D233238

NET TAXES? NOT OVER MY DEAD BODY!
An interview with Rep Chris Cox (R-CA), a leading advocates for lower taxes=
=20
in Congress. He championed the Internet Non-Discrimination Act, which=20
shielded e-commerce from taxation by local and state governments.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: ]
http://news.com.com/Net+taxes+Over+my+dead+body/2008-1082_3-5611753.html...
=3Dnefd.ac

James Kennedy's Christian Crusade
A look at Dr D James Kennedy's expansive media empire.
http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipients/coralridge.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------

CHILDREN AND MEDIA
Study: Kids Are Multi-Media-Tasking
Clinton Reintroduces 'Media Health' Bill

MEDIA REFORM
FCC Urged to Withhold Low-Power Licenses
The Media Reform Campaign

THE BUSH AGENDA
Two Front-Runners Seen for Nomination to Lead FCC
Bush Backs Private-Sector Effort To Repeal or Modify 76 U.S. Rules

JOURNALISM
A Lobby for Sunshine
Senators Reassure Bloggers
Bloggers Parse Pool Reportage On Bush Doings

TELECOM
New Telephone Subscribership Report
Vodafone Looks To Emerging Markets

QUICKLY -- A New Diversity Tool; The Fight Over Univision; Burnett, Product=
=20
Placer Go to Court; Ad Spending up in 2004; Liquor Ads; Powell: One-Year=20
Set-Top Extension; Cable Poker; Outfoxed & Boston Legal

CHILDREN AND MEDIA

STUDY: KIDS ARE MULTI-MEDIA-TASKING
Kids are spending more time with new media, including computers and video=20
games, without cutting back on TV watching, reading or listening to music.=
=20
That's because they are becoming multi-media-taskers, according to a study=
=20
from the Kaiser Family Foundation released Wednesday. The study found that=
=20
since 1999, children and teens' exposure to media has gone up by more than=
=20
an hour, from 7:29 per day to 8:33, most of that increase coming from video=
=20
games or recreational computer time. But since much of that has become=20
multi-layered usage--surfing the Web while watching TV, for example--the=20
total number of hours of media usage has stayed virtually the same (6:19 in=
=20
1999 vs. 6:21 in the newest study).
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA509548?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
Kaiser Press Release: http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia030905nr.cfm
Summary of report: http://www.kff.org/entmedia/7250.cfm
Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year-olds
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/7251.cfm
* Electronic world swallows up kids' time, study finds
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050310/1a_bottomstrip10.art.htm
* American children juggle media
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/11098189.htm

CLINTON REINTRODUCES 'MEDIA HEALTH' BILL
In the wake of a new Kaiser Family Foundation study showing that kids are=20
increasing their media usage and multitasking those media at the same time,=
=20
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is reintroducing a bill to create a=20
government-administered media research program under the National=20
Institutes of Health. The program would study the links between media and=20
child development, and between media consumption and childhood obesity, a=20
growing national health risk. Co-sponsors of the bill, the Children and=20
Media Research Advancement Act, are Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Sam=20
Brownback (R-KS), and Rick Santorum (R-PA).
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA509599?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See "Children Now Welcomes CAMRA Legislation"
http://www.childrennow.org/newsroom/news-05/pr-03-09-05.cfm
See also:
* Kids' TV aims to attract more girls, preteens
Kids watched more TV last year, but only half their time in front of the=20
tube is spent with kids' programming. The major networks that cater to them=
=20
are trying to woo them back, many by broadening their focus from boy- and=20
kiddie-driven toons to include girls and preteens.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Gary Levin]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20050310/d_undergrids10.art.htm
* MCDONALD'S UNVEILS GLOBAL AD CAMPAIGN AIMED AT CHILDREN
Eating right and staying active -- that's what McDonald's is all about. In=
=20
response to the public health advocates, governments and other critics who=
=20
have called for a crackdown on the food marketers they blame for an=20
explosion in childhood obesity, McDonald's, the world's biggest fast-food=20
chain, unveiled an aggressively positive global marketing campaign to=20
promote eating right and staying active, especially in messages geared to=20
children, even as other marketers are shying away from ads aimed at=
youngsters.
[SOURCE: AdAge, AUTHOR: Lisa Sanders]
http://adage.com/news.cms?newsId=3D44488

MEDIA REFORM

FCC URGED TO WITHHOLD LOW-POWER LICENSES
A coalition of religious, community and media watchdog groups -- including=
=20
the Prometheus Radio Project of Philadelphia and the United Church of=20
Christ -- asked the FCC Wednesday to stop granting low-power broadcast=20
licenses, alleging speculators at three Idaho companies improperly made=20
more than $800,000 selling the government-issued permits to religious=20
broadcasters. According to the group's complaint, three Twin Falls=20
companies =97 Radio Assist Ministry Inc., Edgewater Broadcasting and World=
=20
Link Radio Inc.=97 have been "trafficking" in licenses. The coalition said=
=20
the companies sold 85 of the permits to the religious broadcasters,=20
allowing them to retransmit radio signals sent by satellite. During one=20
week in 2003, the coalition alleges, the three companies applied for 5,000=
=20
licenses. The coalition said it believed the companies were violating=20
federal laws against brokering licenses and also were depriving other=20
groups seeking media access through the licenses. "In effect, they've made=
=20
an end run about the FCC's rules and built a nationwide Christian broadcast=
=20
network ahead of other applicants that have patiently waited to go through=
=20
the regular low-power radio licensing process," said Harold Feld, a lawyer=
=20
for the coalition.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR:Jube Shiver Jr]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-fcc10mar10,1,1436304....
y?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
More info from the Prometheus Radio Project:
http://www.prometheusradio.org/fourteenandahalfways.pdf
Press Release:
http://www.prometheusradio.org/freeze_press_release.doc
Text of petition:
http://www.prometheusradio.org/petition_freeze_translators.pdf

THE MEDIA REFORM CAMPAIGN
[Commentary] In our nation, no other entity is as potent or pervasive as=20
the American media in influencing thought and attitudes, impacting our=20
democracy and shaping the popular culture. Given this power, American=20
citizens share the responsibility for making sure the media is held to the=
=20
highest standards of ethics, fairness and objectivity. The AFL-CIO endorses=
=20
the Bill of Citizens' Media Rights as the standard-bearer for our ongoing=20
campaign to achieve that goal, as well as the goal of a diverse,=20
competitive, reliable and unbiased marketplace of ideas. We urge our=20
affiliated national unions to sign on to the statement and our state and=20
local labor councils to support community efforts to hold local media=20
accountable. We also look forward to continued work with our bi-partisan=20
allies in Congress, particularly with the members of the newly formed Media=
=20
Reform Caucus, on issues affecting media consolidation and=20
telecommunications policy that will serve the public interest and protect=20
our members.
[SOURCE: AFL-CIO]
http://www.aflcio.org/aboutaflcio/ecouncil/ec03032005m.cfm

THE BUSH AGENDA

TWO FRONT-RUNNERS SEEN FOR NOMINATION TO LEAD FCC
Two white guys, Michael D. Gallagher, a senior official in the Commerce=20
Department, and Kevin J. Martin, a commissioner at the Federal=20
Communications Commission, have emerged as the top contenders to become the=
=20
next chairman of the FCC. Officials said that Gallagher, the top=20
administration official on telecommunications issues at the Commerce=20
Department, met with White House officials recently to discuss moving to=20
the Commission. Director Gallagher is a former lobbyist at AirTouch=20
Communications and Verizon Wireless. As head of the National=20
Telecommunications and Information Administration, he played a major role=20
in negotiations between the wireless industry and the Pentagon over steps=20
to free valuable radio spectrum for use by the industry. His main political=
=20
patron has been Donald L. Evans, the former commerce secretary and a=20
longtime friend of President Bush. He began his career in the capital in=20
1995 as an aide to Representative Rick White, a Republican from his home=20
state, Washington. Commissioner Martin has long been viewed by industry=20
lobbyists and Congressional officials as the front-runner to succeed=20
Chairman Powell because of his ties to the White House and the fact that he=
=20
would not need to be confirmed by the Senate to take the job. He worked on=
=20
Mr. Bush's first presidential campaign, moved to the White House after the=
=20
election and was then appointed to a commission job in the spring of 2001.=
=20
His wife, Cathie Martin, is a former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney and=
=20
remains an official at the White House. President Bush is expected to name=
=20
a new FCC chair soon.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Stephen Labaton]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/10/business/media/10fcc.html
(requires registration)

BUSH BACK PRIVATE SECTOR EFFORT TO REPEAL OR MODIFY 76 US RULES
The Bush administration put its weight behind private-sector efforts to=20
repeal or modify 76 federal rules that businesses or consumer groups regard=
=20
as outmoded, burdensome or ineffective. The action by the White House=20
Office of Management and Budget is aimed at helping the manufacturing=20
sector, which was hard hit by job losses and contraction during President=20
Bush's first term. In many cases, officials said they would modify the=20
rules to address the concerns, but with some of the rules, the=20
administration promised only to review them. See two telecom-related items=
=20
below.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: John D. McKinnon=
john.mckinnon( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111041714876875369,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)
* Regulatory Reform of the U.S. Manufacturing Sector
Included in the mix is the FCC's "Do Not Fax" Rule which "prevents=20
businesses from using one of
their most effective means of advertisement by requiring prior written=20
consent, a stronger standard than that for telemarketers," the report says.=
=20
"The rule should be withdrawn," commentors suggest "or the standard should=
=20
be changed from requiring "written consent" to allowing faxes in cases of=20
"previous existing business relationships." The report includes a=20
recommendation from the Heritage Foundation on the FCC's pending=20
proceedings concerning the regulatory treatment of broadband - one to=20
determine whether broadband is classified as a "telecommunications service"=
=20
or "information service," another on whether telephone companies providing=
=20
broadband should be regulated as "dominant" providers . These should be=20
decided expeditiously in a way that reduces or eliminates regulation,=20
Heritage suggests.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/reports/manufacturing_initiative.pdf

JOURNALISM

A LOBBY FOR SUNSHINE (2nd item)
The Sunshine in Government Initiative, a new coalition of news media=20
groups, is lobbying Congress to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act.=
=20
SGI is supporting legislation sponsored in the Senate by Sen. John Cornyn=20
(R-Tex.) and Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and in the House by Rep. Lamar=20
S. Smith (R-Tex.). The bills, SGI said, are "aimed at . . . expanding the=20
accessibility, accountability and openness of the federal government. It=20
has been nearly a decade since reforms were made to FOIA. Since then,=20
terrorism has created new pressures to restrict access to information."=20
Walter Mears, the now-retired Associated Press executive editor, said the=20
proposed legislation would tighten the time requirements for federal=20
agencies to respond to FOIA requests and establish an ombudsman position to=
=20
oversee how the government is handling FOIA requests and to mediate=20
complaints. Coalition members include the American Society of Newspaper=20
Editors, the AP (for education purposes only, not lobbying), the Coalition=
=20
of Journalists for Open Government, Cox Newspapers, the Newspaper=20
Association of America, the Radio-Television News Directors Association and=
=20
the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Judy Sarasohn]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21929-2005Mar9.html
(requires registration)

SENATORS REASSURE BLOGGERS
Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), authors of the=20
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, issued a statement on Tuesday in=20
response to comments made by a Federal Elections Commission commissioner in=
=20
a CNET News.com interview last week. "The latest misinformation from the=20
antireform crowd is the suggestion that our bill will require regulation of=
=20
blogs and other Internet communications," they said. "This issue has=20
nothing to with private citizens communicating on the Internet. There is=20
simply no reason -- none -- to think that the FEC should or intends to=20
regulate blogs or other Internet communications by private citizens," they=
=20
said. "Suggestions to the contrary are simply the latest attempt by=20
opponents of reform to whip up baseless fears."
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon]
http://news.com.com/Senators+reassure+bloggers/2100-1028_3-5606859.html?...
=3Dnefd.top

BLOGGERS PARSE POOL REPORTAGE ON BUSH DOINGS
The Internet and blogging appear to be changing the tenor of the White=20
House pool report. Written by rotating members of the small pool designated=
=20
to watch the president at close quarters, the pool report is designed to be=
=20
shared with the hundreds of reporters covering the president who, because=20
of space considerations and time restraints, can't gather the information=20
firsthand. Paper copies were once shared, but now it is done by email --=20
almost inviting it to be posted on the Web. Because of that growing=20
audience, the reporters who write the report are watching what they right.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Christopher Cooper=20
christopher.cooper( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111041711828575367,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_marketplace
(requires subscription)

TELECOM

NEW TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERSHIP REPORT
The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday released its latest report=
=20
on telephone subscribership levels in the United States. The report=20
presents subscribership statistics based on the Current Population Survey=20
conducted by the Census Bureau in November 2004. The report also shows=20
subscribership levels by state, income level, race, age, household size,=20
and employment status. Highlights from November 2004: 1) telephone=20
subscribership penetration rate in the U.S. was 93.5%, 2) the telephone=20
penetration rate was 77.3% for households with annual incomes below $5,000,=
=20
while the rate for households with incomes over $75,000 was 98.0%, 3) the=20
penetration rates ranged from a low of 87.9% in Mississippi to a high of=20
97.1% in Minnesota, 4) penetration was higher amongst Whites, households=20
headed by a person between 65 and 69, and the employed (big surprise=20
there). This report is updated three times a year and can be downloaded=20
from the FCC-State Link Internet site at=20
http://www.fcc.gov/wcb/iatd/stats.html For more info, contact the talented=
=20
Alexander Belinfante at (202) 418-0944.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257258A1.doc

VODAFONE LOOKS TO EMERGING MARKETS
Vodafone, the world's largest cellphone-service provider, said it is in=20
talks to acquire Telesystem International Wireless Inc.'s operations in the=
=20
Czech Republic and Romania for about $3.5 billion. It is also considering a=
=20
bid for Telsim Mobile Telecommunication Services Inc., a Turkish=20
cellphone-service provider that is set to be auctioned by the Turkish=20
government. Expansion into developing markets could help Vodafone=20
compensate for slowing growth in its core markets in Western Europe and=
Japan.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: David Pringle david.pringle( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111040567414475071,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)

QUICKLY

DIVERSITY RESOURCE DIRECTORY
The FCC Federal Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the=20
Digital Age launched a new web tool, the Diversity Resource Directory,=20
geared to assist companies with their diversity efforts. The webpage is a=20
one-stop resource for industry executives, human resources personnel, and=20
employees to go to for assistance in establishing a program that will=20
enhance development of a company's workforce. The online Directory will=20
contain detailed information on the diversity efforts implemented at=20
various organizations, on diversity studies, employment research, and trade=
=20
association and foundation programs that focus on creating and maintaining=
=20
a diverse workforce. Development of the webpage is ongoing and the public=20
is invited to share suggestions for materials to post to the webpage.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257263A1.doc
See the directory at:
http://www.fcc.gov/DiversityFAC/directory.htmlhttp://www.fcc.gov/Diversity=
FAC/directory.html=20

THE OLD VERSUS EL NUEVO
Emilio Azcarraga Jean, who owns the Spanish-speaking world's largest media=
=20
company, Grupo Televisa, has made no secret of his desire to dominate the=20
U.S. Latino market. He has set his sights on the multibillion-dollar=20
broadcasting and entertainment conglomerate known as Univision=20
Communications Inc. -- the company that his grandfather founded 44 years=20
ago and that his family was forced to sell in the 1980s. His path to power=
=20
is blocked, however, by a man twice his age: A. Jerrold Perenchio, the=20
iron-willed chairman and chief executive of Univision. The 74-year-old Los=
=20
Angeles billionaire has spent more than a decade building Univision into a=
=20
fortress. The Century City-based company's three networks command more than=
=20
75% of the U.S. audience for Spanish-language TV.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Meg James]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-emilio10mar10,1,764...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage
(requires registration)

REALITY TV KING FACES COUNTERSUIT BY PRODUCT PLACER
Mark Burnett Productions filed a suit against entertainment-marketing firm=
=20
Madison Road Entertainment alleging that Madison Road told advertisers it=20
had exclusive rights to broker agreements to place products on "The=20
Apprentice," which airs on General Electric's NBC. The reality production=20
house further alleged that the three-year-old Los Angeles firm charged=20
advertisers as much as 250% more than it eventually paid to Mark Burnett=20
Productions to get brands included in contestant challenges. Madison Road=20
has now counter sued, charging the company owned by the king of reality=20
programs with defamation and unfair competition, among other things.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Suzanne Vranica=20
suzanne.vranica( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111042450032575577,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_marketplace
(requires subscription)

AD SPENDING ROSE 9.8% FOR 2004, TNS REPORTS
US ad spending rose 9.8% to $141.1 billion from $128.5 billion in 2003.=20
There were gains for every medium but one. The exception: national spot=20
radio, down 0.7% to $2.6 billion. The surging Internet showed the biggest=20
gain, up 21.4% to $7.4 billion. Outdoor advertising had a strong 20.1%=20
increase to $3.2 billion. In TV, national syndication had the biggest gain=
=20
(15.8% to $3.9 billion), followed by cable (up 13.8% to $14.2 billion),=20
spot TV (up 11.7% to $17.3 billion) and broadcast network TV (up 10.7% to=20
$22.5 billion). Procter & Gamble Co. continued as the top U.S. advertiser=20
in 2004, increasing measured spending 7.4% to $2.9 billion. General Motors=
=20
Corp. was No. 2, boosting measured media by 17.5% to $2.8 billion.
[SOURCE: AdAge, AUTHOR: Bradley Johnson]
http://adage.com/news.cms?newsId=3D44485

LIQUOR COMPANIES WIELD NEW AD CODE AS COMPETITIVE WEAPON
Alcoholic beverage makers, who joined together in 2003 to revise their=20
industry code defining the limits of liquor advertising, have turned out to=
=20
be their own worst critics. A report released today by the Distilled=20
Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) shows that during the first year of=20
independent review compliance, 12 of the 15 complaints filed against liquor=
=20
advertising campaigns came from industry competitors rather than the public=
=20
at large. Curiously, although the focus of public criticism has been on=20
alcoholic beverage ads on TV, not one of the complaints received in the=20
first year involved broadcast commercials. Instead, all complaints were=20
directed toward brochures, print ads or Web sites. Most were concerned=20
about ads appearing in print publications whose readership age bracket=20
didn't meet industry code standards.
[SOURCE: AdAge, AUTHOR: Ira Teinowitz]
http://adage.com/news.cms?newsId=3D44483

POWELL: ONE-YEAR SET-TOP EXTENSION
Apparently Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell has=20
proposed giving the cable industry an additional year to terminate=20
deployment of integrated set-top boxes. Current FCC rules require cable=20
MSOs to deploy only CableCARD-enabled boxes after July 2006, but the cable=
=20
industry fought for an extension, claiming that FCC policies would drive up=
=20
set-top costs without providing subscribers with any new benefits. Chairman=
=20
Powell=92s proposal has been circulated to the other four FCC members, but=
=20
none of them has cast a vote, FCC sources said. Powell has attached some=20
conditions to the extension, including reporting requirements on progress=20
toward development of downloadable security and on implementation of=20
cable-industry support for one-way digital-TV sets that function with=20
CableCARDs. One source said agreement on these details and others has not=20
been reached.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA509564.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

NJ POL EYES CUT OF CABLE POKER
New Jersey Democratic Assemblywoman Joan Voss said Tuesday that she wants=20
networks that feature gambling to help gambling addicts by giving money to=
=20
treatment agencies, calling for a surcharge on the state=92s cable operators=
=20
if the networks don't agree.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA509673.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

FREE SPEECH IMPEDIMENT
Rory O'Connor, AlterNet
This Sunday's episode of ABC's 'Boston Legal' focusing on censorship was=20
itself censored, purged of all references to Fox and Bill O'Reilly. And=20
nobody's talking.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21463/
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------