Media & Education
Harnessing Media's Unique Scale & Reach to Help Children Learn
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Tell others about The Children’s Movement of California and its Pro-Kid campaigns |
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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, umbrella 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. The organization also leads The Children's Movement of California.
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