A “must” if you are fighting Channel One in your school district. Get it at your local library. The article is entitled “Channel One’s Mixed Grade in Schools” by Constance Hays – Sunday, December 5, 1999. The article is on the front page of the business section. It runs for over 3,300 words. Channel One is in deep trouble across the country and this reporter has done a good work documenting the status of this very controversial company.
You can also obtain a copy by paying for it at the New York Times web site. Go to www.nytimes.com and type in the search engine “Channel One” and you will be directed to the article. Channel One hates to be talked about. They like the shadows. They made good money in the shadows. But now their world is turned upside down. Parents and other taxpayers are finding out about their little advertising gimmick. Channel One’s presence in schools will be a hot topic for the foreseeable future.
| December 14, 1999 – Here is a quote from Channel One’s Teach1 web site. Dr. Paul Folkemer evidently is still responsible for approving Channel One’s commercials. Add to Dr. Folkemer and Noreen Clarke the name of Jeff Ballabon, Channel One VP of Public Affairs, who has told people in Alabama that he is something equivalent to the new “moral filter” for Channel One.
“Q. How does Channel One decide which commercials to air?
The topless girl commercial for Clearasil, the ad for the violent PG13 movies “Bats” and “The World is Not Enough” and the ad for the “hot and sexy” Jessica Simpson recording artist, and the “girl living with two guys” ad evidently meet the standards of Folkemer, Clarke and Ballabon (sounds like one bad law firm). Parents should be very concerned. It is all about money and Channel One is hell-bent on keeping their cash flowing from America’s schools. Folkemer, Clarke and Ballabon have to “OK” products, movies, TV shows, junk food and soft drink ads because that is where their paycheck comes from. Folkemer, Clarke and Ballabon apparently see the world differently than most parents. Channel One will fail. They will fail big time. Parents care much more about their children than Channel One thinks they do. |
