May 2008

NEWS FROM CAPITOL HILL
Conyers, Lofgren introduce new Network Neutrality bill
House passes copyright enforcement bill
Congressional action heats up on FISA
Senators argue against reverse auctions for universal service

DIGITAL TV
FCC Confirms DTV Test Market
11 Florida Stations Plan Joint Digital Test
Baker: NTIA Can Allow Reapplication for Coupons
Dish Ready to Supply Boxes in Wilmington, N.C.
Sadusky: DTV Transition will be 'Y2K' Non-event
Why Did the FCC Hire Ketchum?

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Appeals Court Delays Hearing Tribune=92s Waiver Challenge
Tax gains lift Tribune Co. to first-quarter profit
Google addresses antitrust issue on Yahoo ad deal
Adelstein: FCC should consider states concerns over XM-Sirius

JOURNALISM
FCC Probing Complaint About Embedded Analysts
Is "The Daily Show" 'News'?
The Early Life of the Gas-Tax Story
Media Tackles Sensitive Race Issue in 2008 Election

KIDS AND MEDIA
Survey on Kids, Digital Media Released
Study: Fewer under-17 kids buying 'M'-rated games

QUICKLY -- Staff Changes for FCC's Martin; The=20
Future of Reading; Academic says gadgets threaten Internet's future

NEWS FROM CAPITOL HILL

CONYERS, LOFGREN INTRODUCE NEW NET NEUTRALITY BILL
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Grant Gross]
House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and=20
Rep Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the Internet=20
Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act (HR 5994), a=20
bill that would subject broadband providers to=20
antitrust violations if they block or slow=20
Internet traffic. The legislation requires ISPs=20
to interconnect with the facilities of other=20
network providers on a reasonable and=20
nondiscriminatory basis. It also requires them to=20
operate their networks in a reasonable and=20
nondiscriminatory manner so that all content,=20
applications, and services are treated the same=20
and have an equal opportunity to reach consumers.=20
Any ISPs that do not follow these net neutrality=20
rules would be subject to antitrust enforcement.=20
The legislation, introduced Thursday, earned=20
praised from some consumer and online rights=20
groups. Large broadband and mobile phone service=20
providers have begun to discriminate against some=20
content, with Comcast saying it has slowed some=20
customer access to the BitTorrent peer-to-peer=20
protocol during times of network congestion, they=20
say. Other broadband providers have talked about=20
managing their networks or asking some popular=20
Web sites to pay more for fast service, net neutrality advocates have said.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/05/08/US-lawmakers-introduce-new-net...
utrality-bill_1.html
* Reps Conyers and Lofgren press release
http://judiciary.house.gov/newscenter.aspx?A=3D969
* House panel chair offers network neutrality bill
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN0841719720080508
* Public Knowledge Pleased With Introduction of=20
Antitrust Net Neutrality Legislation
http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/1557
* MoveOn.org
"We thank Chairman Conyers and Rep. Lofgren for=20
their leadership on Net Neutrality. With Net=20
Neutrality legislation moving in the House and=20
Senate,=20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DVd8qY6myrrEBarack=20
Obama and=20
http://www.donnaedwardsforcongress.com/node/11congressional=20
candidates embracing Net Neutrality=20
file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Kevin/LOCALS~1/Temp/%E2%80%A2%09http:/blog.wired.com/2=
7bstroke6/2007/11/obama-unveils-s.htmlincreasingly=20
in their campaigns, and a pattern of=20
discrimination by=20
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR20071016=
01536.htmlphone=20
and=20
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=3D285cable=20
companies that beckons for a solution, there's=20
big momentum for laws that will keep the Internet=20
a level playing field for the little guy."

HOUSE PASSES COPYRIGHT ENFORCEMENT BILL
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Grant Gross]
The House of Representatives has passed=20
legislation that would allow law enforcement=20
authorities to seek the forfeiture of property=20
used in copyright infringement. The Prioritizing=20
Resources and Organization for Intellectual=20
Property Act, or PRO-IP Act, would also create a=20
new Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement=20
representative, often called a copyright czar, in=20
the White House. The bill would also expand a=20
U.S. Department of Justice program that gives=20
local law enforcement agencies grants to fight=20
computer crimes, including grants for copyright=20
infringement enforcement. The bill allows both=20
civil and criminal forfeitures of property used=20
to commit copyright infringement. The bill was=20
sponsored by Reps John Conyers (D-MI), Howard=20
Berman (D-CA), Lamar Smith (R-TX). It passed the=20
House on a 410-11 vote on Thursday.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/05/08/House-passes-copyright-enforce...
t-bill_1.html
* House Passes PRO-IP Act
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6558964.html?rssid=3D193
* House wants copyright czar, new piracy penalties
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9939265-7.html?part=3Drss&subj=3Dnews&tag=
=3D2547-1_3-0-5

CONGRESSIONAL ACTION HEATS UP ON FISA
[SOURCE: Politico.com, AUTHOR: Daniel W. Reilly]
Telecom companies have presented congressional=20
Democrats with a set of proposals on how to=20
provide immunity to the businesses that=20
participated in a controversial government=20
electronic surveillance program. House officials=20
declined to discuss the specifics of the proposed=20
immunity language by the telecoms. Although it=20
remains to be seen if congressional Democrats=20
will accept the telecom companies' proposal, the=20
communication between the two sides signifies=20
that progress is being made. The companies are=20
facing almost 40 separate lawsuits primarily from=20
civil liberties organizations related to their participation in the program.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0508/Congressional_action_heats_u...
n_FISA.html

SENATORS ARGUE AGAINST REVERSE AUCTIONS FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICE
[SOURCE: RCRWireless, AUTHOR: Jeffrey Silva]
A bipartisan group of senators led Sen Byron=20
Dorgan (D-ND) has written Federal Communications=20
Commission Chairman Kevin Martin urging him to=20
abandon a plan to use reverse auctions to award=20
universal service fund support to eligible=20
telecom carriers in rural areas. They wrote,=20
=93Reverse auctions leave too many unanswered=20
questions about stranded investment and the lack=20
of incentive for a carrier to improve and expand=20
their network, let alone maintain their current=20
systems. We must not create a race to the bottom.=20
=85 This would in all likelihood leave Americans=20
living in rural and high-cost areas without=20
adequate, affordable communications services....=20
Reverse auctions would ultimately do little more=20
than stymie the innovative communications=20
infrastructure build out that is envisioned by=20
our national universal service policy. Such an=20
untested mechanism is far too risky to impose as=20
we charge communications providers with the=20
responsibility of providing advanced=20
communications services to some of the most rural=20
and expensive-to-serve areas of the country."=20
They also let Chairman martin know that they=20
support a separate FCC proposal to eliminate a=20
rule that gives wireless carriers high-cost USF=20
support equal to that given to landline telecom carriers in rural locales.
http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=3D/20080508/FREE/301245...
/1005/rss01

DIGITAL TV

FCC CONFIRMS DTV TEST MARKET
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
On Thursday Federal Communications Commission=20
Chairman Kevin Martin confirmed that Wilmington,=20
North Carolina, will be the first market to test=20
the transition to digital television (DTV) in=20
advance of the nationwide transition to DTV on=20
February 17, 2009. The commercial broadcasters=20
serving the Wilmington television market have=20
voluntarily agreed to turn off their analog=20
signals at noon on September 8, 2008. Beginning=20
at 12:00 pm on September 8, 2008, these local=20
stations, WWAY (ABC), WSFX-TV (FOX), WECT (NBC),=20
WILM-LP (CBS), and W51CW (Trinity Broadcasting)=20
will broadcast only digital signals to their=20
viewers in the five North Carolina counties that=20
comprise this television market. Representatives=20
of each local affiliate, Donna Barrett, President=20
and CEO of Southeastern Media Holdings, Inc.=20
(WSFX (FOX)), Andy Combs, Station Manager of WWAY=20
(ABC), Jim Goodmon, President and CEO of Capitol=20
Broadcasting (WILM-LP (CBS)), Paul McTear,=20
President and CEO of Raycom Media Inc. (WECT=20
(NBC)), and Colby May, Esq. on behalf of Trinity=20
Broadcasting (W51CW) made the announcement along=20
with the Mayor of Wilmington, Bill Saffo, and=20
the President and CEO of the Wilmington Chamber=20
of Commerce, Connie Majure-Rhett. The DTV=20
transition for the whole country will take place=20
on February 17, 2009, when all full power=20
television stations must turn off their analog=20
signals and broadcast only digital signals. This=20
test market will be an early transition that will=20
give broadcasters and consumers a chance to=20
experience in advance the upcoming DTV=20
transition. The Commission is coordinating with=20
local officials and community groups to=20
accelerate and broaden consumer education=20
outreach efforts. The outreach will focus on the=20
special transition date for Wilmington and the=20
steps viewers may need to take to be ready by=20
September. Chairman Martin said, "Few moments in=20
history have done more to capture the heart of=20
the American spirit than the Wright brothers'=20
momentous first flight at Kitty Hawk, North=20
Carolina on December 17, 1903. Just as the year=20
1903 became a year for the history books, the=20
year 2008 looks to be another trail-blazing year=20
for the State of North Carolina." Commissioner=20
Jonathan Adelstein said, "Some would say that the=20
City of Wilmington is quite brave for=20
volunteering to be the test market of an=20
uncoordinated DTV transition process. But the=20
truth is that by completing their transition to=20
digital TV five months before the deadline for=20
the rest of the nation, Wilmington is providing=20
itself and the entire country with a great service."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282032A1.doc
* First in Flight, First in Digital" (Kevin Martin)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282033A1.doc
* Commissioner Adelstein
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282041A1.doc
* It's Official: Wilmington to Lead DTV Transition
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/08/daily.14/
* FCC Details Wilmington DTV Test
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6559106.html?rssid=3D193

11 FLORIDA STATIONS PLAN JOINT DIGITAL TEST
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Michele Greppi]
Eleven TV stations in central Florida have banded=20
together to run a test designed to flush out=20
viewers who are not technologically prepared for=20
the congressionally mandated nationwide switch to=20
digital television on Feb. 17. The unprecedented=20
three-stage test, announced Thursday in Orlando,=20
will consist of brief blackouts of the stations=92=20
over-the-air analog signals. Cable and satellite=20
customers in the market will see no disruption,=20
because they already are receiving the stations=92=20
digital signal from their providers.=20
Broadcast-only viewers, however, will see a=20
blackout of several seconds and then a graphic=20
telling them where to find information about what=20
corrective measures they need to take in order to=20
be able to see TV programming uninterrupted when=20
the analog signal goes away for real and for good=20
in February. Unlike in Wilmington, N.C., where=20
the local stations=92 analog signals will end for=20
good on Sept. 8 in an FCC-approved test of what=20
other markets might face in February, the Orlando=20
stations will resume analog broadcasting at the=20
end of each test. The Orlando tests, which will=20
be heavily promoted and explained on-air by all=20
of the stations, will last one minute only. The=20
first will take place at 7:59 p.m. June 25.
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/11_florida_stations_plan_joint.php
(requires free registration)
* Orlando Stations to Test Analog Switch-Off
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6559034.html?rssid=3D193

BAKER: NTIA CAN ALLOW REAPPLICATION FOR COUPONS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Acting National Telecommunications and=20
Information Administration head Meredith Attwell=20
Baker said Thursday that the NTIA has the=20
authority to allow consumers to reapply for=20
digital-TV-to-analog converter-box coupons, which=20
expire after 90 days. She said the NTIA would not=20
have to go back to Congress to get the authority=20
to extend the expiration date or reissue the=20
coupons. =93We can change it," she added, "but=20
there would have to be a notice and comment=20
period." Asked whether she planned to change the=20
rules, she would only say that the NTIA was asked=20
to look at it "as soon as some of our redemption=20
data comes in." The agency wants to see how many=20
people are redeeming the coupons out of those who requested them.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6559158.html?rssid=3D193

DISH READY TO SUPPLY BOXES IN WILMINGTON, NC
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Satellite operator Dish Network took the=20
opportunity of the Federal Communications=20
Commission's announcement of a market pulling the=20
plug on analog TV to put in a plug for its=20
low-cost converter box. Dish said it will have=20
its new DTV-to-analog converter boxes (priced at=20
$39.99) available in the Wilmington, N.C., market=20
in time for the planned Sept. 8 date for pulling=20
the plug on analog by the network affiliates there.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6558986.html?rssid=3D193

SADUSKY: DTV TRANSITION WILL BE 'Y2K' NON-EVENT
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Harry A. Jessell]
The CEO of LIN Television says cable or satellite=20
subscribers will be unaffected by TV stations'=20
analog cut-off next February and that most=20
over-the-air viewers will learn from educational=20
campaigns that they must act to avoid losing=20
service. Nonetheless, he adds, Nielsen is smart=20
to switch the February sweeps until March. =93In=20
the worst case scenario, you will have a=20
few=85grandmothers out there who will wake up and=20
not have their TVs working=85[but] they=92ll have a=20
resolution within a few days,=94 he said.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/08/daily.9/

WHY DID THE FCC HIRE KETCHUM?
[SOURCE: hearusnow.org, AUTHOR: Bob Williams]
[Commentary] It was a peculiar decision for the=20
Federal Communications Commission to hire the=20
ethically-challenged Ketchum Communications as=20
their communications and "messaging" guru for the=20
digital television education initiative. It was=20
Ketchum that funneled $240,000 from the U.S.=20
Department of Education to syndicated television=20
and radio host Armstrong Williams in exchange for=20
his touting of the Bush Administration=92s =93No=20
Child Left Behind=94 program a few years ago.=20
Williams did not disclose the contract to his=20
viewers or readers. Of course, the FCC itself=20
conducted an official investigation of the=20
Williams episode, concluding the failure to=20
disclose the government=92s contract with the=20
television and radio host was a violation of the=20
law. Ketchum was also behind so-called =93video=20
news releases=94 about the No Child Left Behind=20
program in which a public relations executive=20
named Karen Ryan posed as a news reporter. Those=20
VNRs, which were picked up and used by media=20
outlets across the country without any editing or=20
identification of origin, were funded by the=20
Department of Education through a contract with=20
Ketchum. Click here for more information on the=20
incidents. Ketchum was widely condemned for both=20
episodes, even drawing fire from some of its=20
fellow powerhouse public relations firms. The=20
incidents also touched off a larger debate on=20
whether the VNRs, the Williams contract and=20
similar PR tactics were, in actuality, nothing=20
more than taxpayer-funded government propaganda.=20
Incredibly, one of Ketchum's primary=20
recommendations was the preparation and=20
distribution of a half dozen of what the PR calls=20
=93Drop-In Article/Matte Releases,=94 which are --=20
for all practical purposes -- merely a print=20
press version of the widely condemned VNRs. To=20
its credit, the FCC this week rejected Ketchum=92s=20
matte release recommendation, according to=20
Communications Daily, an industry newsletter.=20
Still, knowing what they had to know about=20
Ketchum=92s past shenanigans on taxpayer-funded PR=20
efforts, it's incomprehensible that the FCC=20
awarded the company a contract for perhaps the=20
most critical element of the digital TV transition public education program.
http://www.consumersunion.org/blogs/hun/2008/05/now_hear_this_newsletter...
y_8_1.html=20

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

APPEALS COURT DELAYS HEARING TRIBUNE'S WAIVER CHALLENGE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit=20
decided to put off hearing Tribune's challenge of=20
the Federal Communications Commission's decision=20
to grant it waivers to complete the deal to sell=20
the company to investor Sam Zell and Tribune=20
employees. Tribune asked the commission for=20
indefinite waivers and instead got two-year=20
waivers, or six months after the end of any=20
litigation over the waivers. At the time, FCC=20
Democrats saw that as giving Tribune an=20
invitation to take the entire rule to court,=20
which it proceeded to do only days later. On=20
Wednesday, the court decided to hold off on=20
hearing the Tribune challenge, or a motion by=20
media activists to dismiss, until the FCC rules=20
on a petition by those activists -- which include=20
the United Church of Christ and Media Alliance --=20
to reconsider its decision to approve the deal.=20
The court told the commission to provide a status=20
report on its reconsideration within 60 days.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6558915.html?rssid=3D193

TAX GAINS LIFT TRIBUNE CO TO FIRST-QUARTER PROFIT
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, AUTHOR: James P. Miller]
Tribune Co. reported a big first-quarter profit,=20
thanks to a mammoth tax gain the Chicago media=20
concern recorded in connection with the leveraged=20
buyout by which it went private at the end of=20
2007. Without that artificial boost from the tax=20
change, the company swung to a loss, as interest=20
payments soared to service Tribune's heavy load=20
of buyout-related debt. Tribune's publishing=20
operation saw an 11 percent slump in revenue, and=20
Chairman and Chief Executive Sam Zell noted that=20
"print ad revenues continue to be challenged by=20
the weak economy's impact on real estate and=20
classified advertising." Operating results at the=20
company's broadcast group, he said, "are notably=20
more stable." In the latest quarter, Tribune's=20
revenue declined 7.8 percent, to $1.11 billion=20
from $1.21 billion a year earlier.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-080508-tribune-earnings,0,254...
9.story?track=3Drss

GOOGLE ADDRESSES ANTITRUST ISSUE ON YAHOO AD DEAL
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Stephen Shankland]
Google's top executives on Thursday gave a=20
glimpse into how it might try to deflect=20
antitrust concerns of a possible ad-sharing deal=20
with rival Yahoo, advising observers to look at=20
the overall ad market. "You are narrowly focused=20
on search advertising," co-founder Sergey Brin=20
told reporters at the company's headquarters here=20
before Google's shareholder meeting. "Advertising=20
as a whole is much broader, and Internet=20
advertising is much broader." The observation has=20
bearing on the issue of whether Google has a=20
monopoly and whether a deal with a rival would=20
therefore reduce competition. "Advertisers always=20
have multiple choices. It makes sense (for=20
advertisers) to always use more than one," Chief=20
Executive Eric Schmidt added. "It's incorrect to=20
assert there's lock-in or opportunity for=20
dominance in the ad space. Don't map (computer)=20
platform economics to ad economics."
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9939473-7.html?tag=3D

ADELSTEIN: FCC SHOULD CONSIDER STATES CONCERNS OVER XM-SIRIUS
[SOURCE: TheDeal.com, AUTHOR: Ron Orol]
Federal Communications Commission Commissioner=20
Jonathan Adelstein on Thursday said the agency=20
should take into consideration the concerns=20
raised by 11 attorneys general about the=20
controversial all-stock $13 billion merger of XM=20
Satellite Radio Holdings and Sirius Satellite=20
Radio. Commissioner Adelstein said the AGs'=20
staffers told him the Justice Department did not=20
give them an opportunity to air their concerns.=20
The Justice Department approved the deal with no=20
conditions, and the FCC's Media Bureau is still reviewing it.
http://www.thedeal.com/dealscape/2008/05/adelstein_fcc_should_consider.php

JOURNALISM

FCC PROBING COMPLAINT ABOUT EMBEDDED ANALYSTS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin said Thursday that the commission was=20
looking into complaints about the Department of=20
Defense's program to provide administration=20
talking points to former military officers used=20
by TV networks as analysts on the Iraq war. "We=20
are looking into it and we will have a response soon.=94
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6559151.html?rssid=3D193

IS "THE DAILY SHOW" 'NEWS'?
[SOURCE: Project for Excellence in Journalism, AUTHOR: Mark Jurkowitz]
When Americans last year were asked to name the=20
journalist they most admired, showing up at No. 4=20
on the list was a comedian. Jon Stewart, host of=20
The Daily Show on Comedy Central and former=20
master of ceremonies at Academy Award shows, tied=20
in the rankings with anchormen Brian Williams,=20
Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather and cable host Anderson=20
Cooper. Are Americans confused? What is Stewart=20
doing on his program, The Daily Show with Jon=20
Stewart, which might cause people to consider him=20
a journalist? How is the show similar to, and=20
different from, what people get from the=20
mainstream press? Beyond that, who --and what --=20
gets skewered by Stewart and company, and who=20
does not? The Pew Research Center=92s Project for=20
Excellence in Journalism studied the content of=20
The Daily Show for an entire year (2007),=20
compared its news agenda with that of the more=20
traditional news media, examined the lineup of=20
guests and segments and tried to place the=20
program into some kind of media context The=20
results reveal a television program that draws on=20
the news events of the day but picks selectively=20
among them -- heavily emphasizing national=20
politics and ignoring other news events entirely.=20
In that regard, The Daily Show closely resembles=20
the news agenda of a number of cable news=20
programs as well as talk radio. The program also=20
makes heavy use of news footage, often in a=20
documentary way that employs archival video to=20
show contrast and contradiction, even if the=20
purpose is satirical rather than reportorial. At=20
other times, the show also blends facts and=20
fantasy in a way that no news program hopefully=20
ever would. In addition, The Daily Show not only=20
assumes, but even requires, previous and=20
significant knowledge of the news on the part of=20
viewers if they want to get the joke. And, in=20
2007 at least, the joke was more often on the=20
Bush Administration and its fellow Republicans=20
than on those from the liberal side of the aisle.
http://www.journalism.org/node/10953
* PEJ: 'The Daily Show' Borders on News Show (B&C)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6558923.html?rssid=3D193
* PEJ Study: 'Daily Show' Offering Valuable News (Editor & Publisher)
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003800882

THE EARLY LIFE OF THE GAS-TAX STORY
[SOURCE: Columbia Journalism Review, AUTHOR: Russ Juskalian]
The possible suspension of the federal gas tax=20
has become a big issue in the presidential race,=20
and the latest media frenzy surrounding the=20
candidates. As we noted last week, the press=20
aggressively (if belatedly) attacked the idea,=20
which John McCain and Hillary Clinton support and=20
Barack Obama opposes. But regardless of whether=20
tax holiday amounts to political =93pandering=94 on=20
the one hand, or needed relief for struggling=20
Americans on the other, one can look at the=20
evolution of the gas-tax story as a vision of how=20
the mainstream press can live symbiotically with=20
the blogosphere. In fact, the evolution of this=20
story turned the typical journalistic=20
protocol-news first, opinion later-on its head.=20
Attention to the gas-tax holiday began in the=20
blogosphere, and then bled over into a print-media fury.
http://www.cjr.org/the_observatory/the_early_life_of_the_gastax_s.php

MEDIA TACKLES SENSITIVE RACE ISSUE IN 2008 ELECTION
[SOURCE: The NewsHour, AUTHOR: Jeffrey Brown]
A panel discussion on how well journalists handle=20
discuss Race (and Gender) as an aspect of the 2008 election.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/jan-june08/race_05-07.html

KIDS AND MEDIA

SURVEY ON KIDS, DIGITAL MEDIA RELEASED
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Accessing digital media has become as fundamental=20
to a child's education as reading or math,=20
according to three-quarters of parents polled for=20
a new survey, but not so well on those=20
"citizenship" and "gets along well with others"=20
report-card categories. Parents are "conflicted"=20
about how that is affecting their kids and=20
whether digital-media skills translate into=20
communicating and working with others or being=20
good citizens. The survey, from Common Sense=20
Media and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, was=20
released Thursday in advance of a symposium in=20
New York co-sponsored by the Corporation for=20
Public Broadcasting, PBS, McGraw-Hill and=20
Electronic Arts on how to best harness digital=20
media to help children learn and develop. Citing=20
the survey, Common Sense concluded that=20
policymakers should support integrating digital=20
media into the classroom, but also make sure to=20
educate parents, their kids and teachers about=20
the impact of the media, as well as doing more=20
research into the issue. Common Sense also=20
recommended standards for products marketed as=20
"educational." The study found that 75% of=20
parents agreed that a facility with digital media=20
was as "beneficial" to kids as reading and math,=20
and 83% said it was critical to their success.=20
But when it came to greater life lessons, 67%=20
said they did not think the Web taught kids how=20
to communicate, 75% thought it did not teach=20
their kids how to be socially responsible and a=20
whopping 87% said it did not help them learn how to work with others.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6558962.html?rssid=3D193

STUDY: FEWER UNDER-17 KIDS BUYING 'M'-RATED GAMES
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Daniel Terdiman]
Only 20 percent of kids under 17 were able to buy=20
"M"-rated games in the United States this year,=20
according to a government report out Thursday.=20
While parents' groups might like that percentage=20
to be higher, the video game industry is probably=20
pretty happy about the findings. The Federal=20
Trade Commission report studied kids' success at=20
buying tickets to R-rated movies or purchasing=20
R-rated DVDs, mature CDs, and M-rated games. In=20
every case, the FTC found, the success rate had=20
dropped over every previous year it conducted its=20
study. But nowhere was the drop sharper than with=20
video games. According to the study, while 20=20
percent of under-17 kids were able to buy M-rated=20
games in 2008, the number had been 42 percent in=20
2006 and between 60 percent and more than 80 percent in previous studies.
http://www.news.com/8301-13772_3-9939246-52.html?part=3Drss&subj=3Dnews&...
=3D2547-1_3-0-5
* Video games don't create killers, new book says
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0725760620080508

QUICKLY

STAFF CHANGES FOR FCC'S MARTIN
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Michelle Carey, the FCC Chairman's advisor for=20
Media issues, is on maternity leave. Ian=20
Dillner, the FCC Chairman's advisor for Wireline=20
issues, is serving on detail to the House Energy=20
and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications=20
and the Internet. So, on Thursday, Federal=20
Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin=20
announced that Elizabeth Andrion is serving as=20
his Acting Legal Advisor for Media Issues and Amy=20
Bender is serving as his Acting Legal Advisor for=20
Wireline Issues. Ms. Andrion most recently served=20
as Deputy Chief of the Office of Strategic=20
Planning and Policy Analysis. Ms. Bender most=20
recently served as Legal Counsel to the Chief of=20
the Wireline Competition Bureau. Previously, Ms.=20
Bender served as Special Counsel in the Wireline=20
Competition Bureau's Telecommunications Access=20
Policy Division and as an Attorney Advisor in the=20
Wireline Competition Bureau's Front Office.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282031A1.doc

THE FUTURE OF READING
[SOURCE: Columbia Journalism Review, AUTHOR: Ezra Klein]
Klein reviews Amazon=92s Kindle and concludes, "if=20
the Kindle=92s successor or competitors are to=20
succeed, it will be because Amazon used its=20
status as the world=92s largest online bookseller=20
to force authors to think seriously about=20
creating content that works better than the book,=20
that goes where the book cannot, that=92s=20
interactive and cooperative and open in ways that printed text will never b=
e.
http://www.cjr.org/cover_story/the_future_of_reading.php

ACADEMIC SAYS GADGETS THREATEN INTERNET'S FUTURE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Peter Griffiths]
The rise of gadgets like the iPhone, Blackberry=20
and Xbox threatens to unravel the decades of=20
innovation that helped to build the Internet, a=20
leading academic has warned in a new book.=20
Professor Jonathan Zittrain says the latest=20
must-have devices are sealed, "sterile" boxes=20
that stifle creativity and turn consumers into=20
passive users of technology. Unlike home=20
computers, new Internet-enabled gadgets don't=20
lend themselves to the sort of tinkering and=20
collaboration that leads to technological=20
advances, he says. The mix of gadgets,=20
over-regulation and Internet security fears could=20
destroy the old system where mainstream=20
technology could be "influenced, even revolutionized, out of left field."
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSL0875110620080508
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Have a great weekend, Moms.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online=20
news summary service provided by the Benton=20
Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday=20
through Friday, this service provides updates on=20
important industry developments, policy issues,=20
and other related news events. While the=20
summaries are factually accurate, their often=20
informal tone does not always represent the tone=20
of the original articles. Headlines are compiled=20
by Kevin Taglang headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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