Viacom president Mel Karmazin has laid down the law to the top execs of 180 Infinity radio stations around America that Viacom owns. Karmazin is said to have told the execs on a conference call that there is a new “zero-tolerance” policy on obscenity over the air: “If you don’t comply, you’ll be fired for cause. This company won’t be a poster child for indecency.”
Tag: 02.19.04
A Language From The Beginning
How are languages created, and how do they evolve? A group of deaf kids in Nicaragua have developed their own sign language and are teaching linguists much about the evolution of language.
A Code Of Ethics For Non-Profits
As government officials consider drafting new oversight rules for non-profits, a Washington group proposes a code of ethics that non-profits could sign on to. “As a matter of fundamental principle, the nonprofit and philanthropic community should adhere to the highest ethical standards because it is the right thing to do. As a matter of pragmatic self-interest, the community should do so because public trust in our performance is the bedrock of our legitimacy.”
Moyers To Retire From PBS
Bill Moyers is retiring from PBS and his show “Now.” “The veteran journalist said he had pondered the new course for some time, and originally considered stepping down in June, when he turns 70. Instead, he will scale back his duties after that, but stay on through the presidential race.”
Detroit – Where Chamber Music Thrives
Chamber music series all over America have been struggling. But the Chamber Music Society of Detroit, celebrating its 60th birthday, has never been doing better. Its budget has doubled in the past decade, it has a record number of subscriber, and it consistently sells out its concerts.
Theatre Development Fund Hid Deficit By Diverting Government Money
The Ontario government has taken contral of a theatre development fund out of the hands of the Toronto Theatre Alliance “after an internal forensic audit revealed $161,000 had been diverted from the fund” into the TTA’s budget to cover up a deficit. “The annual operating budget of the organization is $350,000, but for the past two years, roughly $90,000 per annum was siphoned into it from the Commercial Theatre Development Fund and the Dora Support Fund to make it appear the books balanced.”
The CD Will Be Dead By 2007
“New studies show that young people have little interest in owning prepackaged music when just about every recording they want can be had as a download. For people stricken with the collecting disease, this plastic-free vision of the future sounds a little alarming. Sure, we smirked when Dustin Hoffman’s Benjamin was urged to go into plastics in “The Graduate.” But we’ve really come to love our plastic, especially when it contains the audio and visual stimulation we crave.”
Universal Ballet Comes Of Age
In only 20 years, Seoul’s Universal Ballet has become a company with which to reckon. “Many people still associate the company with its founder, Rev. Moon Sun Myung of Unification Church. But over the years, UBC has substantially shed the image of its ties to the religious group through its quality performances and contribution to Korea’s ballet development. ‘Year after year, we put on repertoires that were deemed above our capacity, which speeded up our growth. We also had a lot of influence from our series of foreign teachers, not only with dance but the whole production, including stage arts, lighting and costume design, because ballet is a composite art’.”
Is Irish Caravaggio Real?
Is a painting thought to be a Caravaggio in Dublin’s National Gallery a copy or a fake? “The recent discovery of an identical work in Italy has sparked heated debate, with Italian art dealers convinced theirs is authentic and the other a copy. But art collector and historian Sir Denis Mahon said the Italian artist had painted at least two versions of The Taking of Christ and both were originals.”
Yerba Buena Lays Off Curator, Staff
San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center has laid off its chief curator and eight others because of financial concerns. Curator Renny Pritikin, “who got his pink slip last week and left Friday, was widely respected by artists and curators, who admired his keen eye for contemporary art and willingness to blur the boundaries between so-called high and low art. Pritikin will not be replaced. Nor will the other laid-off employees, who worked in various departments – finance, operations, marketing and development.”