Benton RSS Feed

To view Benton's Headlines feed in your RSS=20
Aggregator, paste=20
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dtaxonomy/term/6/all/feed into your read=
er.
For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

MEDIA OWNERSHIP HEARING IN LA
News Coverage
Statements from Commissioners
Testimony

JOURNALISM
Local Television Remains the Dominant Source of News
For Major Events, Consumers Trust Traditional Media Most
'NewsHour' Faulted for Lack of Diversity
Miami Publisher Steps Down Over Payments to Reporters
Software Being Developed to Monitor Opinions of U.S.

BROADCASTING
Quibbles and Bits: Rehr, McSlarrow Tussle Over Transition
Washington and Broadcasters Must Team Up
Ireland To Broadcasters: Online is Your Space
Advertisers Get Warmer Reception From PBS
Tribune Hopes CW Network Is Must-See TV
Fox News: Enraging Liberals for 10 Years

CHILDREN & MEDIA
Advocate Questions Approach of Childhood Obesity/Media Task Force
PTC Lauds Mitsubishi for Dropping 'Nip/Tuck'

QUICKLY -- Senate Communications Act of 2006 Bill=20
Report; Rallies protest limits on digital=20
copying; Neither safe nor secure on the Internet;=20
Candidates, Parties Shave Corners in Ads; 'The=20
Future Workforce is Here and is Ill-Prepared'

MEDIA OWNERSHIP HEARING IN LA

* Media Ownership Rules Reviewed, And Tense Fight Is Likely Brewing
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amy Schatz Amy.Schatz( at )wsj.com]
If the four-hour hearing held in a packed=20
conference room at the University of Southern=20
California is any indication of future FCC=20
hearings, a review of media ownership rules is=20
promising to once again be a contentious process.=20
In some ways, it was almost more notable for who=20
didn't show up than who did. Not a single top=20
executive from any of the major media companies=20
testified at the hearing to lift the ownership=20
caps, while opponents including Hollywood unions=20
and the Rev. Jesse Jackson appeared to testify or=20
give their opinion in five-minutes or less. FCC=20
Chairman Kevin Martin has made little secret of=20
his desire to loosen the restrictions,=20
particularly to dump cross-ownership limits=20
barring media companies from owning newspapers=20
and television stations in most markets. He=20
argues they aren't needed now because of the=20
media diversity offered by the Internet and the=20
explosion of cable and satellite television or=20
radio programming. Complaints about job cuts in=20
newsrooms and less local programming on radio and=20
broadcast television stations dominated=20
yesterday's hearing, as the audience clamored for=20
more local ownership. "People feel proprietary=20
about their airwaves and they don't like the way=20
they're being used," said FCC Commissioner=20
Michael Copps. Indeed, some media activists were=20
expressing cautious hope yesterday that if=20
Congress changes hands in November, Democratic=20
lawmakers might be able to put pressure on the=20
Republican-controlled FCC to actually tighten=20
some rules, instead of loosening them. The=20
president appoints FCC members, although the FCC=20
listens closely to what Congress says.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115991851846981808.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

* Consolidation in Media Is Called Stifling
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: James S. Granelli]
Hollywood, not the stars but the everyday=20
workers, along with consumer advocates and local=20
politicians told federal regulators Tuesday that=20
the growing consolidation of major broadcast=20
companies was stifling competition, creativity=20
and diversity. The result, they told the Federal=20
Communications Commission, was fewer jobs, lower=20
wages, bland programming and decisions made by a=20
handful of conglomerates, not local operators.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-fcc4oct04,1,679799.st...
?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

* FCC gets earful blasting at media limits hearing
Hollywood actors, producers and musicians on=20
Tuesday crowded into a Federal Communications=20
Commission public hearing to clamor for a halt to=20
media conglomerates growing bigger, as the agency=20
considers overhauling its ownership limits.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=3DpoliticsNews&storyid=
=3D2006-10-04T000051Z_01_N03169624_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-FCC-OWNERSHIP.xml&src=
=3Drss

* FCC hears public criticism on media ownership rules
Before a raucous standing-room only crowd in a=20
conference room at the University of Southern=20
California, politicians, musicians, actors and=20
writers told commissioners that consolidating=20
media ownership has stifled creativity and that=20
more stringent controls against media consolidation need to be put in place.
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=3D%7BA49A338F%2D9E...
2D4FEE%2DAE8F%2DDBC726462E63%7D&dist=3Drss&siteid=3Dmktw

* Hollywood bashes media consolidation
Even with new distribution channels such as the=20
Internet, too much media consolidation is hurting=20
the diversity of news and entertainment, many=20
representatives of those industries told the=20
Federal Communications Commission in a public hearing Tuesday.
http://news.com.com/Hollywood+bashes+media+consolidation/2100-1026_3-612...
7.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

* Jackson Asks FCC to Aid Media Ownership by Minorities
"There is a gap between those who own the=20
airwaves, the people, the public, and those who=20
control the airwaves," said civil-rights leader Jesse Jackson.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D20601204&sid=3DaoeEDafTSZ.E&refer=
=3Dtechnology

* Cannell Kicks Off FCC Hearings
Veteran TV programmer Steven J. Cannell -- a=20
member of the Caucus of Television Producers,=20
Writers & Directors -- told FCC Commissioners=20
that the ability of independents to move from one=20
network to another had been insurance against=20
being forced to change content or give up control=20
as the quid pro quo for network play.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6377778.html

* SAG, WGA Lodge Complaints at FCC Hearing
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) complained to FCC=20
commissioners attending media consolidation=20
hearings in Los Angeles Tuesday that =93salary=20
compression=94 by the networks has harmed mid-level=20
actors' abilities to make a living.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6377792.html?display=3DBreaki...
News
-- Guild and Other Entertainment Industry Groups=20
Testify at FCC Public Hearing on Media Ownership October 3
http://www.sag.org/sagWebApp/application;JSESSIONID_sagWebApp=3DFjhsUhN8...
86WwkUqC6PJa9IkqZf6C4hNdn3rGdYE7wllEDP0ef!1160233265!NONE?origin=3Dpage1.js=
p&event=3Dbea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=3DHidden&contentUrl=
=3D/NewsAndAnnouncements/announcementLander.jsp&cp=3Dnull&announcementPage=
=3D/Content/Public/fcc_hearing2006.htm

* Tribune draws flak at FCC hearing over L.A. properties
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-LA) and others criticized=20
ownership of the Los Angeles Times and KTLA-TV,=20
Channel 5 by Chicago-based Tribune Co.
http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=3D22313

* A call for more owners
Size matters, and smaller is better. A panel of=20
Hollywood's creative elite delivered that message=20
to an itinerant FCC on Tuesday in the first of a=20
series of regional hearings tied to the=20
commission's quadrennial review of=20
media-ownership regulations. The collective=20
lesson of media deregulation has been that media=20
mass equals less diversity when it comes to programming, they said.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/business/article_display.jsp?vnu_co...
nt_id=3D1003190939

FCC Chairman and Commissioners Statements From=20
Public Hearing on Media Ownership in Los Angeles, CA

* Chairman Martin: "The Commission is looking for=20
input on our rules and how they impact the three=20
core goals they are intended to further:=20
competition, diversity and localism. The=20
decisions we will make about our ownership rules=20
will be as difficult as they are critical. The=20
media touches almost every aspect of our=20
lives. We are dependent upon it for our news,=20
our information and our entertainment. Indeed,=20
the opportunity to express diverse viewpoints=20
lies at the heart of our democracy. I recognize=20
many of the concerns expressed about increased=20
consolidation and preservation of=20
diversity. But, also critical to our review is=20
exploring and understanding the competitive=20
realities of the media marketplace. It is our=20
task to ensure that our ownership rules take into=20
account the competitive environment in which=20
media companies operate while also ensuring the=20
promotion of localism and diversity."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267747A1.doc

* Commissioner Copps: "I just want to emphasize=20
what is at stake here. Our media is=20
precious. It's how, outside of our strictly=20
personal spheres, we speak to each other, inform=20
each other, learn from each other, entertain each=20
other, how we govern ourselves, and-yes-come to=20
know ourselves as individuals and members of a=20
larger society. Media is the most powerful=20
enterprise we have. If we are smart about it,=20
our media will reflect the genius, the creativity=20
and the diversity of our great country. We will=20
see to it that the people's airwaves truly=20
reflect and truly enhance the talents and aspirations of all of us."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267748A1.doc

* Commissioner Adelstein:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-2677749A1.doc

* Commissioner Tate: "The issues involved are=20
critically important to our society. How do our=20
younger, media- and technology-savvy citizens get=20
their news and information? What do we make of=20
the phenomenal growth of blogs, vlogs, and=20
podcasts, which were just emerging when the FCC=20
completed its last review of the rules? What is=20
the significance of the increasing rate of=20
broadband penetration and the resulting=20
transformation of the Internet into a platform=20
for streaming full-length video programming? How=20
has consolidation affected the production of=20
content, such as children's and family-friendly=20
programming? There are many, many other=20
questions we need to ask and have answered."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267750A1.doc

* Commissioner McDowell: "In particular I look=20
forward to learning about competition, diversity=20
and localism in the Los Angeles media market from=20
all of you, who have first-hand knowledge of the=20
realities of broadcasting in this hub for the=20
creative community. We need the information that=20
only you can provide about how our ownership=20
rules affect you as businesspeople and as viewers=20
and listeners so that we can determine whether=20
the times demand that those rules change. The=20
more specific information and data you can=20
provide to the Commission, the better. I am very=20
eager to hear all points of view."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267751A1.doc

More from People Who offered testimony

* United Church of Christ Pastor Testifying About=20
Media Ownership Before Federal Communications Commission in Los Angeles
The Rev. S. Huw Anwyl, senior minister of=20
Shepherd of the Hills UCC of Laguna Niguel,=20
Calif., planned to testify before the Federal=20
Communications Commission Tuesday, speaking to=20
the public's urgent need for greater access to low-power FM radio.
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=3D73698

* Martin Kaplan, director of The Norman Lear=20
Center, is associate dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication:
"Mr. Chairman, there are two ways to suppress=20
research. One is to shred its findings. The other=20
is to refuse to conduct it. In their June=20
dissent, Commissioners Copps and Adelstein called=20
on the FCC to contract for independent,=20
well-funded studies of whether there is=20
sufficient coverage of civic affairs on local=20
television. Mr. Chairman, please tell the public=20
that it is the best of studies, not the worst of=20
studies, that you now plan to conduct."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marty-kaplan/what-i-told-the-fcc_b_30896.html

* FCC Chairman Hears Overwhelming Opposition to Media Consolidation
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=3D171

JOURNALISM

LOCAL TELEVISION REMAINS THE DOMINANT SOURCE OF NEWS
[SOURCE: Radio and Television News Directors Foundation]
More Americans choose local television news as=20
one of their top three sources for news than any=20
other form of traditional or new media, according=20
to The Future of News Survey conducted for the=20
Radio and Television News Directors Foundation. A=20
total of 65.5 percent named local television=20
news, compared with 28.4 percent who named local=20
newspapers and 28.3 percent who named national=20
network television news. The Internet was one of=20
the top three choices for 11.2 percent of those=20
surveyed. The survey also found that the public=20
perceives that business and advertisers have=20
influence on television news. Those in higher=20
income groups, the better educated, younger=20
people and men feel most strongly about the=20
importance of maintaining a clear separation between advertisers and news.
http://www.rtnda.org/news/2006/100306.shtml
* See "The Future of News"
http://www.rtnda.org/resources/future/index.shtml

FOR MAJOR EVENTS, CONSUMERS TRUST TRADITIONAL MEDIA MOST
[SOURCE: TechWeb Technology News, AUTHOR: KC Jones]
Consumers trust traditional media over blogs,=20
podcasts and other Internet-only publications for=20
information on major news events, like pandemics=20
and natural disasters, according to the results=20
of a recent survey. Half of the respondents said=20
that they would turn to network television for=20
immediate news on such events, according to=20
results of a nationwide survey released Monday by=20
LexisNexis. Radio (42 percent), local newspapers=20
(37 percent) and cable news and business networks=20
(33 percent) ranked next for popularity. About 25=20
percent would turn to print and broadcast media=20
Internet sites, according to the survey. Only six=20
percent of respondents said they would seek=20
information from Internet user groups, blogs and chat rooms.
http://www.techweb.com/wire/ebiz/193101119

'NEWSHOUR' FAULTED FOR LACK OF DIVERSITY
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: David Bauder]
PBS' "NewsHour" tilts too heavily toward=20
Republican white men in its sources and needs to=20
do a better job promoting diverse points of view,=20
according to a report released by Fairness and=20
Accuracy in Reporting. Two-thirds of the partisan=20
sources appearing on Jim Lehrer's nightly=20
newscasts between October 2005 and March 2006=20
were Republican, and 82 percent were men. The=20
show works hard to reflect diversity, PBS=20
spokesman Rob Flynn said. But with Republicans in=20
power in both the White House and Congress, it's=20
only natural that they will be seen more in a news program, he said.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TV_NEWSHOUR?SITE=3DCARDB&SECTION=...
OME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT

MIAMI PUBLISHER STEPS DOWN OVER PAYMENTS TO REPORTERS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Katharine Seelye]
The publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo=20
Herald, its Spanish-language sister paper,=20
resigned yesterday, saying he had lost control of=20
his newsrooms over a growing controversy=20
involving payments from the Bush administration=20
to some reporters of El Nuevo Herald for their=20
commentary broadcast on the anti-Castro outlets=20
Radio and TV Mart=ED. The publisher, Jes=FAs D=EDaz=20
Jr., had fired two staff reporters and=20
discontinued the services of a third, who is a=20
freelancer. But in a surprising reversal in his=20
resignation letter, Mr. D=EDaz invited the three=20
back yesterday, saying the policy against=20
accepting payment for such appearances had been=20
ambiguous and enforced selectively. Mr. D=EDaz said=20
six more reporters were found to have taken money=20
but would not be disciplined. His announcement=20
reignited a fierce debate within the two=20
newsrooms, raising fundamental questions about=20
the role of journalists, particularly in what=20
could be propaganda and with respect to Fidel=20
Castro. While The Herald is a traditional=20
American newspaper that prizes neutrality, El=20
Nuevo Herald tends toward partisanship,=20
especially against Mr. Castro. The firings had=20
unleashed an outcry among some Cuban-Americans in=20
Miami who complained of a double standard and demanded Mr. D=EDaz=92s resig=
nation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/04/us/04paper.html
(requires registration)

SOFTWARE BEING DEVELOPED TO MONITOR OPINIONS OF US
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Eric Lipton]
A consortium of major universities, using=20
Homeland Security Department money, is developing=20
software that would let the government monitor=20
negative opinions of the United States or its=20
leaders in newspapers and other publications=20
overseas. Such a =93sentiment analysis=94 is intended=20
to identify potential threats to the nation,=20
security officials said. Researchers at=20
institutions including Cornell, the University of=20
Pittsburgh and the University of Utah intend to=20
test the system on hundreds of articles published=20
in 2001 and 2002 on topics like President Bush=92s=20
use of the term =93axis of evil,=94 the handling of=20
detainees at Guant=E1namo Bay, the debate over=20
global warming and the coup attempt against=20
President Hugo Ch=E1vez of Venezuela. A $2.4=20
million grant will finance the research over=20
three years. American officials have long relied=20
on newspapers and other news sources to track=20
events and opinions here and abroad, a goal that=20
has included the routine translation of articles=20
from many foreign publications and news services.=20
The new software would allow much more rapid and=20
comprehensive monitoring of the global news=20
media, as the Homeland Security Department and,=20
perhaps, intelligence agencies look =93to identify=20
common patterns from numerous sources of=20
information which might be indicative of=20
potential threats to the nation,=94 a statement by the department said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/04/us/04monitor.html
(requires registration)

FOX NEWS: ENRAGING LIBERALS FOR 10 YEARS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Brian C. Anderson, City Journal]
[Commentary] Fox News is the news media success=20
story of the last decade. Liberals aren't=20
celebrating the channel's birthday, though. "When=20
a news outlet is allowed to blur the lines=20
between opinion and journalism and call it 'fair=20
and balanced,' I think it's confusing to=20
consumers of information in this country, and=20
it's dangerous to democracy," said official at=20
Common Cause. Nothing would please liberals more=20
than to drag the nation back to the days when the=20
New York Times and CBS News determined what was=20
newsworthy. A group of congressional Democrats=20
has warned Fox to end its supposed=20
anti-Democratic bias -- or else. Should Democrats=20
retake Congress, an effort to shut down, or at=20
least muzzle, Fox, is far from inconceivable,=20
creepy and illiberal as that sounds. Something=20
Fox News doubtless is keeping in mind as it pops the champagne corks this w=
eek.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-anderson4oct04,1,...
1871.story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)

BROADCASTING

QUIBBLES AND BITS: REHR, MCSLARROW TUSSLE OVER TRANSITION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
At the Maximum Service Television (MSTV)=20
conference in Washington, the heads of the=20
National Cable & Telecommunications Association=20
and the National Association of Broadcasters=20
squared off Tuesday over the issues of cable's=20
down conversion of broadcasters' high-definition,=20
digital TV signals and multi-cast must-carry.=20
Broadcasters want cable to have to pass along a=20
broadcaster's HDTV signal as is--saying that not=20
to is to strip out material, while the cable=20
industry wants that ability to downconvert them=20
to standard-definition where capacity is an=20
issue, saying the government should not be=20
forcing what it sees as additional carriage obligations.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6377760.html?display=3DBreaki...
News
* Digital Transition Date Will Stick, Congressional Staffers Say
Key House and Senate legislative staffers=20
predicted Tuesday that the digital transition=20
date of February 2009 will "stick."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6377768?display=3DBreaking+News

WASHINGTON AND BROADCASTERS MUST TEAM UP
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
According to former NAB Joint Board Chairman=20
James Yager, now CEO of Barrington Broadcasting,=20
broadcasters need to work on their relationship=20
with Washington. At a Maximum Service Television=20
forum in Washington Tuesday, Yager said that "the=20
greatest challenge facing broadcasters in the=20
next couple years, is our relationship with both=20
the Senate and the House." "For some reason, we=20
seem to have lost our magic with our own elected=20
representatives," he said. "We have a challenge to rebuild that magic."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6377497?display=3DBreaking+News

IRELAND TO BROADCASTERS: ONLINE IS YOUR SPACE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
NBC Universal Television Stations Group President=20
Jay Ireland told an audience at the Maximum=20
Service Television association conference in=20
Washington Tuesday that while the print press=20
owned the Web space when it was primarily a text=20
business, "shame on us" if broadcasters did not=20
own the online video space now. He said that=20
broadcasting doesn't mean a signal off a tower,=20
it means being in the video content business wherever that takes them.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6377399.html?display=3DBreaki...
News

ADVERTISERS GET WARMER RECEPTION FROM PBS
[SOURCE: MediaDailyNews, AUTHOR: Tom Siebert]
Faced with a shrinking budget from Congress and=20
the loss of major supporters for two of its most=20
popular programs, PBS is embracing new ways for=20
its sponsors to air their company messages. The=20
nonprofit net has brokered creative deals through=20
its advertising arm, The Sponsorship Group for=20
Public Television. Just like for-profit broadcast=20
and cable networks, PBS is offering sponsors=20
increased exposure across a variety of platforms,=20
including the Internet, podcasts and product=20
tie-ins, as well as longer-form sponsor messages.=20
The increased aggressiveness for corporate=20
dollars follows a House of Representatives=20
subcommittee's June vote to reduce federal=20
funding for the Corporation for Public=20
Broadcasting, which oversees PBS and National=20
Public Radio, by $115 million. The cuts don't=20
take effect, however, unless both houses of=20
Congress approve them. Last year, a similar=20
recommendation failed. Still, there is an=20
increased urgency for PBS. ExxonMobil, a leading=20
sponsor of "Masterpiece Theater," has dropped the=20
program. Toyota has left "Antiques Roadshow."
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=3DArticles.san&s=...
8976&Nid=3D23930&p=3D368626

TRIBUNE HOPES CW NETWORK IS MUST-SEE TV
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Brooks Barnes brooks.barnes( at )wsj.com]
Tribune Co., caught in a corporate-survival=20
drama, is hoping for some help from Superman,=20
some supermodels, and the Gilmore girls.=20
"Smallville," "America's Next Top Model" and=20
"Gilmore Girls" are star attractions on the=20
prime-time lineup of the new CW network, launched=20
last month out of the ashes of the WB and UPN=20
networks. CW is co-owned by Time Warner Inc.'s=20
Warner Bros and CBS Corp., but Tribune -- which=20
owns 16 TV stations that air the CW in some of=20
the country's biggest markets -- may have the=20
most at stake. The CW launched just as Tribune=20
put itself on the market so the network's early=20
ratings will have a big impact on the value that=20
potential buyers put on the station group. So=20
far, the new network is delivering. Total=20
viewership is up 12% so far this season compared=20
with the WB's performance during the same period last year.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115992841672382093.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

CHILDREN & MEDIA

ADVOCATE QUESTIONS APPROACH OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY/MEDIA TASK FORCE
[SOURCE: AgapePress, AUTHOR: Ed Thomas]
While announcing a new task force to examine the=20
links between media and childhood obesity last=20
week, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and FCC=20
Chairman Kevin Martin said the group will look at=20
industry solutions first before threatening any=20
government regulation. Dr. Susan Lynn, founder of=20
Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood (CCC),=20
thinks that suggestion might not be a good=20
approach, however. Her organization, a coalition=20
of health care professionals, educators, advocacy=20
groups and concerned parents that collectively=20
battle consumerism targeted at children, has been=20
trying to get private companies that market to=20
kids to voluntarily police themselves ever since=20
the coalition's inception at the beginning of the=20
decade. "I think any conversation about marketing=20
to children and food marketing to children, has=20
to include the possibility of regulation, Lynn=20
insists. "It's the threat of regulation that has=20
gotten the food companies to take any steps at=20
all," she notes. Based on the CCC's experience=20
with lobbying private companies, the coalition's=20
founder says she questions whether the reported=20
tack of the FCC's new media-and-childhood-obesity=20
working group will really end up serving the best=20
interests of children. "What happens to the task=20
force will depend in part on who's on the task=20
force and also on how they see their mission,"=20
Lynn asserts. "And one of the things that's a=20
little concerning to me is that it's my=20
understanding that they've pretty much taken=20
regulation off the table from the start." Also,=20
Lynn feels the task force needs to be composed of=20
appointments that provide a balanced ratio of=20
representatives from advocacy groups and public=20
health organizations to representatives of food=20
marketers. The composition and approach of the=20
new FCC joint task force, she says, will be key=20
factors in determining the study group's success.
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion05158.shtml?from=3...

PTC LAUDS MITSUBISHI FOR DROPPING 'NIP/TUCK'
[SOURCE: tvnewsday]
The Parents Television Council on Tuesday praised=20
Mitsubishi Motors for pulling its sponsorship of=20
the FX Network's Nip/Tuck, which PTC said has=20
recently aired episodes containing scenes of=20
explicit sexual situations. PTC provided=20
descriptions of the show to Mitsubishi Motors. In=20
a letter to PTC, a Mitsubishi Motors executive=20
responded: "We certainly have no desire to offend=20
consumers with our advertising, which is meant to=20
entertain and inform potential customers about=20
the benefits of purchasing our products. With=20
this in mind, we have decided to discontinue advertising on Nip/Tuck."
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2006/10/03/daily.5/

QUICKLY

SENATE COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 2006 BILL REPORT
[SOURCE: US Senate Commerce Committee]
The Senate Commerce Committee has released its=20
report on the Communications Opportunity,=20
Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006, a bill=20
intended "to update the Nation=92s communications=20
laws in a manner that benefits consumers and=20
encourages deployment of broadband infrastructure=20
and services throughout the country and eliminate=20
unnecessary regulations where appropriate."
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/_files/SenateCommunicationsBillConfere...
Report.pdf
** For more information on this bill, see=20
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/2173

RALLIES PROTEST LIMITS ON DIGITAL COPYING
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Free software advocates rallied against certain=20
limits on copying music and films on Tuesday in a=20
global "Day against DRM" (digital rights=20
management), saying consumers are robbed of their=20
fair-use rights as entertainment goes digital and online.
http://news.com.com/Rallies+protest+limits+on+digital+copying/2100-1007_...
122451.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

NEITHER SAFE NOR SECURE ON THE INTERNET
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Jerry Archer, Devonshire]
[Commentary] If there is to be a successful=20
defense of the DNS, it will require increased=20
vigilance, resilience, reaction speed,=20
flexibility and, most importantly, enlightened oversight by ICANN.
http://news.com.com/Neither+safe+nor+secure+on+the+Internet/2010-7345_3-...
2351.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

CANDIDATES, PARTIES SHAVE CORNERS IN ADS
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Jim Kuhnhenn]
With five weeks to Election Day and control of=20
Congress at stake, negative ads are making their=20
way onto the airwaves and into mailboxes earlier=20
and in greater volumes than ever before.=20
Candidates, political parties and advocacy groups=20
are stretching, bending or spinning the truth in=20
search of an edge with voters. This week, the=20
parties have ramped up their ad placements,=20
attacking opponents on their past votes, their=20
past business dealings, and their links to big=20
donors. The result is a video medley of ads that=20
range from clever to tasteless, from subtle to blunt.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NEGATIVE_ADS?SITE=3DIACED&SECTION...
HOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
See also --
* Expensive ad markets hike campaign costs
Democrats will have to overcome the high cost of=20
TV advertising to win pivotal races in their bid to control Congress.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20061004/a_expensive04.art.htm

MOST YOUNG PEOPLE ENTERING THE US WORKFORCE LACK CRITICAL SKILLS
[SOURCE: PRNewswire]
As the baby boom generation slowly exits the U.S.=20
workplace, a new survey of leaders from a=20
consortium of business research organizations=20
finds the incoming generation sorely lacking in=20
much needed workplace skills-both basic academic=20
and more advanced "applied" skills. Business=20
leaders report that while the three "R's" are=20
still fundamental to every employee's ability to=20
do the job, applied skills such as teamwork,=20
critical thinking, and communication are=20
essential for success at work. In fact, at all=20
educational levels, these applied skills trump=20
basic knowledge skills such as reading and=20
mathematics in importance in the view of=20
employers. In order to succeed in the workplace=20
of the 21st Century, high school and college=20
graduates need to master basic academic skills as=20
well as a complement of applied skills. The=20
survey also found though that too many new=20
entrants to the workforce are not adequately=20
prepared in these important skills.
http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=3D3305071
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------