BROADCAST
TV Political News In California Is Shrinking, Study Comfirms (NYT)
Advertisers Avoiding Minority Radio (WP)
Airing on the Side of Caution (WP)
TELEPHONY
MCI WorldCom Wins a Big Contract Providing Services to U.S.
Agencies(WSJ)
Why Is Bell Atlantic Leading The Cheers For New Local Rivals (WJS)
A Familiar Voice on the Phone (WP)
INTERNET
SBC Cuts Price for Internet Access (WP)
Strengthening Alumni Ties With E-Mail Addresses for Life (CyberTimes)
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BROADCAST
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TV POLITICAL NEWS IN CALIFORNIA IS SHRINKING, STUDY COMFIRMS
Issue: TV/Elections
Less than one-third of 1% of local television news time was devoted to
California's gubernatorial race during the heated campaign last fall. The
Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California
conducted a study in which 8,664 hours of local news broadcasts from the
last three months of the election season were surveyed. Of the already
minute amount of campaign coverage on TV, researchers found that only
one-third of it focused on substantive issues, while the rest was centered
around strategy and political maneuvering. The study also found that even as
local political news coverage shrinks, spending for campaign advertising has
soared to record levels. "Now free media doesn't exist," said Marty Kaplan,
associate dean of the Annenberg School. "The notion that stations have any
public interest obligations is something that was alive a generation ago,
and now you have to have somebody from the F.B.I. to find the concept."
[SOURCE: New York Times (A11), AUTHOR: Todd S. Purdum]
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/washpol/california-politics.html
ADVERTISERS AVOIDING MINORITY RADIO
Issue: Minorities/Advertising
A study to be released today by the Federal Communications Commission
concludes that advertisers regularly discriminate against minority-owned
radio stations and stations that have large African American or Hispanic
audiences. For decades minority broadcasters have said advertisers paid
disproportionately less for air time on stations reaching largely African
American or Hispanic audiences or bypassed their stations altogether, a
practice known among ad buyers as the "no urban/Spanish dictate." FCC
Chairman William Kennard said, "What this report underscores is the need for
advertisers to fully value all consumers and not make decisions on the the
basis of racial stereotypes." Kennard, the FCC's first African American
chairman, is seeking ways to increase minority ownership of radio and TV
stations. Many advertisers and agencies deny discriminatory practices. The
study acknowledges that disparities in advertising may be caused by more
than just racial characteristics, but it adds "in certain instancies the
[advertising] buying process is guided by ethnic/racial stereotyping,
underestimations of disposable income, the desire to control product image,
unfounded fears of pilferage, etc." The report recommends advertisers adopt
a code of conduct that outlaws "dictates"; that the FCC and Federal Trade
Commission adopt a policy statement on acceptable ad practices; and that the
federal government consider an executive order prohibiting federal agencies
from contracting with ad agencies that employ discriminatory practices.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (F1), AUTHOR: Paul Farhi]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-01/13/086l-011399-idx.html
AIRING ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION
Issue: Legal Issues
The C-SPAN cable network decided at the last minute Monday not to cover a
Larry Flynt news conference live. Despite previously promoting the
broadcast, the nonprofit network decided to follow the recommendation of
their lawyer. C-SPAN VP Terry Murphy said, "It was not an editorial concern
as much as a legal concern about defamation and libelous statements being
made." The Hustler publisher accused Rep. Robert Barr (R-GA) of hypocrisy
for refusing to answer questions during a divorce proceeding. Barr is now
one of the House prosecutors in the Senate impeachment trial and is a fierce
critic of President Clinton's handling of his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
C-SPAN is dedicated to the idea of live, unfiltered coverage of public
events. Ultimately C-SPAN did replay the Flynt event twice on Tuesday. In
hindsight, Bruce Collins, the network's general counsel, said, " we could
easily have aired it live, but we didn't have the confidence to do it just
before air time."
[SOURCE: Washington Post (C1), AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-01/13/190l-011399-idx.html
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TELEPHONY
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MCI WORLDCOM WINS A BIG CONTRACT PROVIDING SERVICES TO U.S. AGENCIES
Issue: Competition
MCI WorldCom has won the second of two available contracts to provide
communication services to the federal government agencies nationwide through
the year 2007. The contract is valued at approximately $750 million.
Sprint Corp. won the first contract last month. The two will compete within
the government for business from various federal agencies, business
estimated at $5 billion. To win the contract MCI WorldCom beat AT&T, the
company with more than 70% of business under the current contract
established in 1988. Under the new contract, calling rates are expected to
continue to drop, starting at about four cents a minute and dropping to less
than a cent a minute by 2007. Sprint and MCI will offer a variety of
services, ranging from long distance and toll-free numbers to high-speed
data communications, Internet services and international calls. For its
part, AT&T said it will determine its next course of action after meeting
with government officials.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B2), AUTHOR: Rebecca Blumenstein]
http://wsj.com/
See also:
MCI WINS LARGE FEDERAL TELECOM CONTRACT
[SOURCE: Washington Post (F3), AUTHOR: Shannon Henry]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/washtech/daily/jan99/fts13.htm
WHY IS BELL ATLANTIC LEADING THE CHEERS FOR NEW LOCAL RIVALS
Issue: Local Telephone
Almost three years after the passage of the 1996 Telecomm Act, which
intended to bring competition to local telephone markets, the Baby Bells or
GTE still provide most Americans with their local telephone service. The
great cost involved with connecting every home and business to a local phone
company's switching facility has prevented incumbent competitors from
presenting much of a challenge to the Regional Bells. This might soon change
as the Bells seek to show regulators proof of competition in local markets.
Legislation prevents the Baby Bell from offering long distance service until
they can prove the existence of local competition. In some communities,
customers are beginning to have more than option when it comes to local
service. In Kingston, PA -- one such community -- people can now choose
either Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises or Bell Atlantic as their local
carrier. Companies like Commonwealth, which has taken away almost 200,000
customers from Bell Atlantic, are beginning to provide the Bells with just
what they need - competition, but not too much.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A1), AUTHOR: Stephanie Mehta]
http://wsj.com/
A FAMILIAR VOICE ON THE PHONE
Issue: Telephony
Dick Clark is the latest celebrity to join an emerging chorus of famous
telemarketers. Before telemarketers were anonymous, low-paid strangers.
Now pre-taped pitches by real-life celebrities have been carpet-bombing the
nation's answering machines. Bill Clinton urged targeted voters to support
Democratic candidates in November's elections. Singer Michael Bolton urged
fans to buy his new album. While such taped celebrity pitches have Federal
Communications Commission enforcement officials on alert, a Florida company
that specializes in them reports they are wildly popular, especially
compared with traditional telemarketing tactics. "Recipients love these
things," said Rob Tuttle, chief executive of the Broadcast Team, the Ormond
Beach, FL company that produced the recent Dick Clark message. "We're
trying to hit answering machines," said Tuttle, who said his company has the
capacity to complete more than 1 million calls a day. Clients pay the
Broadcast Team 25 to 75 cents per call, Tuttle said, depending on the length
of the message. In Washington Chris Pike, the WJLA TV general manager, said
that the Clark calls resulted in a flurry of angry calls because, although
his company had nothing to do with the telemarketing effort, they were
promoting programs on his station. [Since the wife of one of the CRH
staffers received that "personal" call from Dick reminding us to watch the
American Music Awards this week, at least 2/3 of the CRH staff felt
compelled to watch. Thanks for the call, Dick. Say "Hey" to Ed McMahon.]
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A1), AUTHOR: Mark Leibovich]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-01/13/100l-011399-idx.html
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INTERNET
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SBC CUTS PRICE FOR INTERNET ACCESS
Issue: Competition
In an aggressive bid to dominate the market for high-speed Internet access,
SBC Corp., the parent of Pacific Bell, will triple the availability of
asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) hookups in California and cut
the price from $89 to $39 a month. SBC hopes to reach 10 million business
and home customers in seven states with the service by the end of 1999. For
$49 a month, the ADSL package will include Internet access. SBC's main
rivals will be cable TV companies which can provide high-speed Internet
service through coaxial cable lines, avoiding phone company connections.
Dave Gallemore of SBC said, "ADSL is available, affordable, and has the
technological attributes that make it the better choice." After California,
states to receive the new service include Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas,
Arkansas and Connecticut.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (Online), AUTHOR: Associated Press]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WAPO/19990112/V000639-011299-idx.html
See also:
PAC BELL REDUCES MONTHLY PRICE FOR HIGH-SPEED INTERNET SERVICE
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Jon Healey]
http://www.mercurycenter.com/business/center1/hispeed011399.htm
STRENGTHENING ALUMNI TIES WITH E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR LIFE
Issue: Education
Several colleges and universities have come up with a way to help build
community among graduates - e-mail addresses for life. The schools give
alumni a chance to have an email address that stays constant no matter where
else their lives might take them. Email is automatically forwarded from the
school to a graduate's current account at work, home, or wherever they have
established email service. Universities offering this service assure that
the purpose is not to make it easier for them to contact potential donors.
[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: Pamela Mendels]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/01/cyber/education/13education.html
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