Telecommunications Act of 1996

For our final class, we shall be reviewing the Telelcommunications Act of 1996.  For an overview, go here.

Ted Turner and the Cable Revolution

Ted Turner has been one of the most influential figures in the development of cable television.  For a prize-winnning article by media author Ken Auletta, click here.

Update:  Turner’s autobiography is coming out shortly.  For a sneak preview, check out this link.

Children and Television?

We recently read Newton Minow’s Abandoned in the Wasteland:  Children, Television, and the First Amendment.  Minow, the former FCC chairman, had his vision of what the future of television programming would look like.  Naturally, modern technology can move in many different directions.  Check out this web site–Totlol.

Sarah Palin on NBC License Renewal

For Palin’s comments on the eve of the election, click here.

Palin’s thoughts on the media echo those of Vice President Spiro Agnew.  For a transcript and recording of his November 1969 speech on television news coverage, check here.

Cher, Bono, and Chase Utley

The FCC policies on restricting language go to the Supreme Court today, with Fox and NBC in opposition.  See USA TODAY for a history of the case which involves “fleeting expletives.”

For information on another FCC case, known as “Google vs. Dolly”, see this article.  And for the FCC decision, which sides with Google and high tech entrepreneurs, go here.

Alternate Methods of Funding “Public Television”

As mentioned in class, the British fund their public television differently than in the United States, via a tax/license fee imposed on the sale of each televsion.  For more information, visit the BBC here.

Real People in Political Advertisements

Errol Morris, who won the best documentary Oscar in 2004 for The Fog of War, writes an interesting article on the use of “Real People” in political ads.  His survey travels from 1952 (the Ike ads) to the present day self made ads of Joe the Plumber.  His article links to “The Living Room Candidates” (see blogroll at right) so you can see the ads he discusses.

Who’s the next FCC chief?

Variety posits the possible choices for FCC chief in potential McCain and Obama administrations here. The question for you class members, is why does this matter?

Framing the Narrative

Classmate Mark Huston commented on the importance of framing the narrative in media advertisements.  For the debate of framing the McCain narrative, see the controversial New York Times article, “The Making (and Remaking) of McCain.”

Political Ads Through History

For those of you who want to see MORE politicals ads over the next two weeks, check out the Museum of the Moving Image.