Television Criticism

Writing Assignment 4

Due March 26

What is Educational Television, and why is it important?

In 1990, Congress passed the Children's Television Act, requiring broadcasters to air at least three hours of educational programming a week dedicated to children.  The FCC defines "educational" as meeting "core" requirements, which means that they "generally must have serving the educational and informational needs of children as a significant purpose; be aired between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.; be a regularly scheduled weekly program; and be at least 30 minutes in length." (http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/kidvid/prod/kidvid.htm).

What do broadcasters and the FCC consider educational programs? Some examples include:  Disney's Teamo Supremo, Lizzie McGuire, As Told by Ginger, The Proud Family, Dora the Explorer, Hey Arnold, Rugrats, Dragon Tales, Davey and Goliath, Amigos por Siempre. Really. I'm not making this up!  Mostly, they are thought to teach "pro-social" lessons like, being a friend or being honest.

As television critics, we know better. "educational television" is better thought of as a number of categories.

    A. Overtly educational programs - programs that actually teach you how to do something.

    B. Covertly educational programs - programs that teach you how do to something or about something without appearing to or claiming to.  ("covert" means "concealed; secret; disguised")

    C. Bogus educational programs -- programs that claim to be educational but are not (entertainment disguised as education?).

Your mission:  a proposal to the FCC to require three hours of each type of programming.

OUTLINE

I.  Opening paragraph - a strong explanation of what you are going to propose and why (you may want to write this last).

II. - IV. A, B and C above.  For each type...

    a. general description of what this type of program is about (not specific).

    b. example of a show which illustrates this type and specifically what one would learn and how.

Since this is a proposal to the FCC, you can deviate from the normal font type, line spacing, etc. if you like to make it a more professional looking document. You can also make the proposal from a fictitious group, like the Association for Media Learning or the Television Education Foundation (of which, of course, you would be the President).