Antitrust/Microsoft
WSJ: Microsoft Seeks Allies to Halt Antitrust Move
WP: 26 Firms Ask Justice Not to Delay Windows 98
Television
NYT: 'Springer' Producers to Reduce Violence
WP: Is Jerry Springer's Hit Parade Over?
NYT: Less Clutter on TV But Ad Time Rises
** Antitrust/Microsoft **
Title: Microsoft Seeks Allies to Halt Antitrust Move
Source: Wall Street Journal, A3, A4 http://www.wsj.com
Author: John R. Wilke, David Bank
Issue: Antitrust, Microsoft
Description: Microsoft is trying to rally opposition to possible antitrust
action that could delay or block release of Windows 98. Heads of Intel,
Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell joined 22 other computer industry
executives in signing a letter recommended by Microsoft. Some computer
makers are uncomfortable being solicited to support MS at a time when they
are testifying about its business practices to federal and state antitrust
officials. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal doubts "this
kind of obvious, orchestrated public relations and lobbying effort will
have substantial impact."
Title: 26 Firms Ask Justice Not to Delay Windows 98
Source: Washington Post, F1, F2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-05/01/148l-050198-idx.html
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran & Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Issue: Antitrust, Microsoft
Description: Top executives of 26 computer industry companies sent a joint
letter to the Justice Department yesterday urging it not to delay or block
the scheduled June 25 release of Windows 98, claiming that the direct
effect on the economy would be considerable, and would deprive consumers
the right to buy the latest innovative PC operating system. Ken Wasch,
president of Software Publishers Association, disagreed, saying that "I see
no evidence that a delay in the shipment of Windows 98 would freeze the
market for hardware or software." Signers included chief executives from
Dell Computer Corp, Intel Corp, and Compaq Computer Corp. Microsoft helped
circulate the letter for signatures. Government investigators said that
some industry executives had called them expressing concern that MS was
trying to strong-arm them into signing the letter. MS spokesman denied
that MS wrote the letter, but instead simply acted as a clearinghouse for
the document.
[In a "I-can't-help-but-compare-this-to-another-(non-comm'ns-related)-
issue" story, it took *150,000* individually-written, "passionate,"
non-form-letters to get the attention of the US Dept of Agriculture,
resulting in the agency's re-thinking its position on the definition
of "organic" foods. See Washington Post, 5/1/98, A2,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-05/01/149l-050198-idx.h...
** Television **
Title: 'Springer' Producers to Reduce Violence
Source: New York Times, A21
http://search.nytimes.com/search/daily/bin/fastweb?getdoc+site+iib-site+64+
0+wAAA+springer
Author: LAWRIE MIFFLIN
Issue: television, violence, content
Description: Producers of "The Jerry Springer Show" agreed to eliminate all
physical violence from this raucous daytime talk show starting June 8,
after pressure organized by Chicago-area religious leaders, including the
National conference of Christians and Jews, and Rainbow PUSH.
Title: Is Jerry Springer's Hit Parade Over?
Source: Washington Post, D2 (apparently excluded from their WWW version)
Author: Greg Braxton [from the L.A. Times - www.latimes.com/HOME/]
Issue: Television, violence, content
Description: Owners of the nation's top-rated syndicated talk show
announced they'd eliminate all physical violence from the series, after
meeting with several Chicago religious leaders upset about fights, obscene
language and nudity on the program. The decision marks a complete reversal
from the unapologetic stance Springer and the show's producers took only a
few months ago.
Title: Less Clutter on TV But Ad Time Rises
Source: New York Times, C4
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/pepsi-ad-column.html
Issue: television, content
Description: The amount of commercial time carried by networks rose to new
levels, increasing an average of 13 seconds per hour over the last year.
Fox clocks in highest at 15:54 minutes of commercials per hour; ABC at
15:44,, NBC at 15:19 and CBS at 14:29. Daytime television carries an
average of 40 commercials an hour, the same as last year.
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