Category: media

Nell Minow wishes there was a movie rating for rudeness. “After all, the ratings for language are based on the traditional profanities. They don’t apply to insults or obnoxious comments that are what used to be called “fresh.” On the contrary; in today’s media, children who are rude, even to adults, are applauded — literally, in the case of sitcoms, which give insulting and disrespectful comments full-out laugh-track approval.”

The US House of Representatives has voted not o cut funds for public broadcasting. “The 284-140 vote demonstrated the enduring political strength of public broadcasting, whose supporters rallied behind popular programs such as ‘Sesame Street,’ ‘Postcards From Buster’ and ‘The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer.’ The Public Broadcasting Service undertook a high-profile campaign to rescind the proposed cut. Lawmakers were flooded with letters and phone calls.”

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has a new president. “Patricia S. Harrison, the assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, was selected after three days of closed meetings by the corporation’s board of directors. She was co-chair of the Republican National Committee from 1997 to 2001.”

How to make indie films rich and famous? By emulating the success of indie music, which has used internet downloads with great success. “European cinema currently has a 26.5% penetration inside Europe – and only makes a 3.3% chink in the US market. By digitally delivering film with a new initiative, the 35% market share that independent music enjoys in North America could be achieved with cinema.”

Why is public television getting dumped on? “To some degree, public television has positioned itself for abuse. The charter of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting says it must adhere to “objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature.” Unfortunately, Americans have little appetite for truly “fair and balanced” coverage. If we did, the News Hour With Jim Lehrer would be a smash hit and Fox News would be banished to the media dustbin.”

A video artist gets caught in the Australian ratings board’s rule that all works of moving images have to apply for ratings classification. But that costs real moneey, more in fact than some artists spend on making their work…

Public radio stations are rallying their listeners to lobby Congress not to pass deep funding cuts to public broadcasting. But “jarring juxtaposition of news programming and self-interested promotion exemplifies the fine line that public broadcasters are walking as they mobilize to combat threats to their financing. It is always a delicate task for a news organization to cover itself. But when the organization in question is financed in part by the government, when the news centers on the prospects for that money and when a station floods its airwaves with spots urging viewers or listeners to contact their Congressional representatives, the undertaking becomes much more challenging.”

Denver’s public access TV station is in a fight with the city’s government. “The Denver City Council and management at DCTV are butting heads over the latter’s budgetary habits. Like, spending too much. City funding for a public-access channel – $500,000 annually – was part of the deal. That contract ran out last year. To keep the channel on the air, the city fronted DCTV $115,000 for operating expenses and $150,000 for equipment. A divorce is imminent.”

“In an era when on-screen advertising is routine — even unobtrusive when done well — the makers of “Herbie” use every opportunity to stick a parade of Cheetos, Pepsi, Dupont, etc. in your face. Not only is this supremely distracting, but Disney’s hyper-marketing even slows the dialogue as actors struggle to say such things as “Nextel Cup Series” as if they’re reading off cue cards held by stern-looking corporate lawyers.”

Movie stunt coordinators are thwarted again in their attempt to get a new Oscar award category for stuntmasters. “At a time when the academy is trying to find ways to reduce the numbers of statuettes given out, and looks at categories with an eye more focused on reduction than addition, the board is simply not prepared to institute any new annual awards categories.”