2—The Daily Collegian Monday, Oct. 16,1995 Networks' educational programming questioned By JEANNINE AVERSA Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON, D.C. Which of the follow ing TV shows are educational? a) “NBA Inside Stuff,” a behind-the-scenes look at NBA players and coaches. b) “Free Willy,” an animated series about a 12-year-old named Jesse and his friend, a three ton whale named Willy. c) “Beakman’s World,” in which an actor and two sidekicks explain scientific concepts. d) “The Magic Adventures of Mumfie,” about a lonely animated elephant who sets out to find friends. Answer: All of the above, according to the major broadcast networks. ABC airs “Free Willy,” CBS has “Beakman’s World,” NBC does “NBA Inside Stuff’ and Fox offers “The Magic Adventures of Mumfie.” The shows, network executives say, satisfy their obligations under a 1990 law to put on pro grams that serve the educational and informa tional needs of children. But Kathryn Montgomery, president of the Center for Media Education, and other critics don’t think programs like “NBA Inside Stuff” and “Free Willy” meet those needs. As federal regulators consider adopting tougher rules, the debate over children’s televi- the L&sf c Cowßoy *m, RESTAURANT & LOUNGE V 1521 Martin Street ♦ 237-8833 MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL W ♦MGD Feature ♦ 15$ Wings ♦Big Screen TVs mT people read Collegian ads.^Right?^^ rsSsrr^&rrsSkrnShsr] I LUNCH SPECIAL I ONE LARGE ONE TOPPING I LATE NIGHT i CARRY OUT SPECIA J ! 1 SMALL 2 TOPPING AND * ONE ORDER OF CHEESE STICKS! ONE LARGE ■ ONE LARGE WITH I rj.™ sf lU’.set Jj” Si O*™ se' I Additional Toppings .7Sc Each I Additional Toppings .95e Each I Additional Toppings .95c Each I Additional Toppings .95C Each ! | NOT MOT VAUD WITH ANY NOTVALID | sion has largely centered on whether the gov ernment should require TV stations to air a minimum amount of educational shows. But what is educational? The Federal Communications Commission, which is responsible for making sure broadcast ers comply with the law, says educational and informational programs are shows that further “the positive development of children 16 years of age and under in any respect, including the child’s intellectual/cognitive or social/emotional needs.” That definition, the FCC admits, is vague and has resulted in confusion and some creative interpretations. Some stations have counted reruns of “The Jetsons” and “Leave it to Beaver” as fulfilling their educational obliga tions. And a study released last week by Dale Kunkel, a communications professor at the Uni versity of California, Santa Barbara, found some stations classifying “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” and even “Yogi Bear” as educational. “The FCC has failed to provide a definition to give guidance to broadcasters,” FCC Chairman Reed Hundt admits. But the agency is considering adopting a clearer and tighter definition of what consti tutes an educational program. Industry and public comments on this and 'Tk&'hi'i serving areas north of College Avenue to Park Forest PENN STATE CAMPUS ving areas south of Park Avenue including Lemont & Boalsburg SMEAL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ORGANIZATION MEETINGS AND EVENTS r Monday. Oct. 16 XI Business in locus 6:30 pm HUB Tuesday. Oct. 17 PS LA • May Company 7:00 pm ASC • Union fidelity 7:00 pm 101 Chambers Wednesday. Oct. 18 Acctg Club - Ernst A Young TBA A a fl|P Gamma lota Sigma - 7:00 pm 207 HUB 4jlT Sunday. Oct. 22 BASH Meeting 7:00 pm Wamock Lounge PSMA - Conference at Scanticon Monday. Oct. 23 MCBS Interview Workshop R ASC - Towers Perrin 7:00 pm 201 Chambers " * Sigma lota Epsilon 7:00 pm 251 Willard Wednesday. Oct. 25 FMA (AT&T) Fishbowl Tuesday. Oct. 24 238-7272 234-7272 other proposals are due to the FCC today. “Unless the FCC adopts tougher rules, you are going to see more shows move into pro social themes, what I call ‘lite educational pro grams’ they qualify but they are not really educational,” Montgomery said. CBS President Peter Lund agrees. “You need a clearer definition because look at the disparate number of programs classified as educational... that are not educational or infor mational,” he said in an interview. However, other network chiefs interviewed saw no need for a clearer definition. NBC President Robert Wright: “I think the definition is broad enough today... . When you get a definition too tight, too narrow, what gen erally happens is you get a show that parents love and kids aren’t interested in.” Chase Carey, chairman of Fox Television, said, “I can’t figure out how you’d say it what is educational to put it in a set of definitions. The risk with a formula like ‘here are the five tests and I comply’ is that you end up with something that kids probably won’t watch.” Children who watch “Free Willy” can learn about environmental concerns, which under the FCC’s existing definition would be furthering a child’s social needs, says ABC spokeswoman Janice Gretemeyer. Sign up for executive Interaction Acctg Club GE Capital TBA ® ** PARK AVE. 3-0830 for more info * about rooms and times COLLEGE AVE. XQ • XQ • XQ • XQ • XQ • XQ • XQ • XQ • XQ • XQ The sisters of CHI OMEGA congratulate Jadl Gonzalez & Kristy Ramer x x on their initiation. ? We're so proud to call you x X our sisters! 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