Media & Education
Harnessing Media's Unique Scale & Reach to Help Children Learn
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ExpandRelated News |
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Children Now Asks FCC to Put Teeth in Tentative Kids Ad Conclusions (Broadcasting & Cable) |
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Special Report: Does Anyone Care About TV’s Content Ratings? (TV Guide) |
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FCC Explores Improved TV Ratings, V-Chip (National Journal) |
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ExpandFacts & Figures |
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Since 1996, television broadcasters have been required to air at least three hours of children’s educational programming per week. They are also required to label those programs with an educational/informational icon so parents can identify them. |
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A Children Now study found that only one in eight TV episodes labeled “educational/informational” is highly educational. In contrast, nearly twice as many were found to have only minimal educational value. |
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In 1990, Congress passed the Children’s Television Act to ensure broadcast TV stations provide programming specifically designed to serve the educational needs of children—in return for the free use of publicly-owned airwaves. |
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ExpandPolicy Priorities |
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Respond quickly to public complaints about the adequacy of TV broadcasters’ compliance with the Children’s Television Act. |
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Actively monitor TV broadcasters’ compliance with the Children’s Television Act. |
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Strengthen the guidelines for what constitutes “educational/informational” TV. |
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Many adults today have childhood memories of learning the letter of the day from Sesame Street or how a bill becomes a law from Schoolhouse Rock. For those who grew up watching these classic educational programs, there is little question about media’s ability to support children’s educational and socio-emotional development.
Children Now is the leading, nonpartisan, multi-issue research, policy development, and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting children's health and education in California and creating national media policies that support child development.
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