Commercial exploitation of Schoolchildren Hall of Shame: ...
A look back to 2023: Another bad idea in...
Where are they now?: Channel One’s Kent Haehl selling...
Pop Quiz: Maggie Rulli has just… January 2, 2026 I just saw Maggie Rulli...
From Jim Metrock: About six years ago, I met several Edmodo employees at an...
Kent Haehl was Mr. Channel One News. He presided over the company for six...
Give Vanessa Carlton a Grammy for “unmitigated gall.” The students at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona thought they won a Channel One contest and the first prize was a Vanessa Carlton concert at their school. On the surface that appears to be just what happened, but it doesn’t take much brainpower to understand that this high...
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Click to print out our newest brochure “10 Reasons Why Channel One News is Unhealthy for Students.” (PDF format)
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From Jim Metrock: The president and CEO of Channel One News has left the building. Jim Ritts is out. In a move that shakes the company to its core, Channel One did not offer any explanation or reason for his departure. Ritts was there at the beginning of the company in 1988. (Channel One was rolled out nationally...
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A routine reporting of a student health committee report turned into a big victory for supporters of commercial-free classrooms. The Alabama State Board of Education passed amended language to a committee report that calls for Channel One to “refrain from advertising high-sugar, high-fat, low-nutritional food and drink products, over-the-counter medicines, and movies that receive a MPAA rating for sexual, violent,...
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Actual screen shot from a middle school broadcast of Channel One News. Abortion is an explosive issue among adults. Adults have differing views on when life begins. The executives at Channel One News believe that preteens should be thinking about abortion. They have attempted to engage children in a conversation about this hot issue. (No need to let parents...
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These are some of Missy Elliott’s tamer lyrics. This song is entitled Ecstasy. It’s her loving tribute to the “party” drug Ecstasy. Yo I’m on FIRE!!!!! People go head and drink up Get in the club get f****d up See me you got get lucked up Someone to touch your rubber Show me some love,...
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Amy and Ephram Somebody at Channel One loves the WB’s Everwood show on Monday nights. It has been advertised as much as any other TV show on Channel One, with the possible exception of Dawson’s Creek. It is age-inappropriate for high school students, and most certainly for middle school students. Channel One promotes this TV show to children as young...
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Obligation has been told by a reputable source that on January 19 Channel One News ran a commercial spot that featured a promotion for the raunchy Missy Elliott. This was to promote the contest that had previously only been on Channel One’s web site. (If you check Channel One’s web site for the January 19 show, you will see...
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1 What was NOT recently advertised on Channel One News? answer at bottom of page Burger King french fries have not been advertised on Channel One News since the early 90’s.
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Answers 1. Twinkies – Yes. Channel One advertised in classrooms. 2. Twix Chocolate Bars –Yes 3. Doritos – Yes 4. M&Ms – Yes 5. Burger King French Fries – No * 6. Crunch – Yes. 7. Pepsi Blue – Yes. Channel One ran an ad featuringa band known for their explicit lyrics to promote...
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Channel One News has all the technical resources to provide live coverage of important events like today’s inauguration of President Bush, but they refuse to do so. The reason they refuse goes to the purpose of Channel One. The company’s purpose is NOT to timely inform students of current events. The company was NOT founded by journalists or educators. It...
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Channel One News asks students to vote on their favorite rock or rap songs. The top nine to twelve songs are then partially played each Thursday. No principal or superintendent would ever approve such a moronic idea. Well, Channel One didn’t ask anyone for permission. They just did it. Below are some of the songs Channel One has...
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Mr. Ritts, glad to have you at Obligation’s web site again. How ya been? How’s the company? Metrock, this is another one of your make-believe interviews. I don’t know why I answer these questions but I will. First, I’m fine. Never been better, and the company is doing great. You do-gooders haven’t laid a glove on us. I’m glad...
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Dr. John Draper, lobbyist, failed State BOE candidate Below: Sec. of State’s record of Channel One’s money to Draper. Dr. John Draper is an education lobbyist in Alabama. He ran for the State Board of Education in 2004. He ran against the incumbent, Stephanie Bell, who opposes Channel One’s presence in Alabama schools. Draper supported a...
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SBOE Spares Channel One BY MICHAEL MAY November 22, 2002: On Nov. 15, the State Board of Education considered and rejected a non-binding resolution recommending that local schools stop showing Channel One, a daily news program with commercials broadcast in 1,200 Texas high schools. At the meeting, Channel One was defended by Jim Ritts, the well-coiffed CEO of Primedia, which produces...
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Bells ring later in new semester By Max Foster, Roundup staff reporter Friday, December 17, 2004 Students at Payson High School and Rim Country Middle School can enjoy another 30 minutes of sleep or study time when classes reconvene Jan. 3. For junior Brad Meyocks, the later start time — 8:30 a.m. rather than 8 a.m. —...
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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 Subject: Response to “Thieves of Time” Dear Jim, This is my response to “Thieves of time”. I think that Obligation should find some schools and school districts that have Channel One, and file a class action lawsuit against them for stealing class time, and violating their contract with the school. Channel One obviously...
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* Song title from Missy Elliott. Missy Elliott is a rap singer whose lyrics are filled with violence, graphic sex and an incredible amount of drug references. Her musical world is an ugly, raunchy, doped up world. This week Channel One News is promoting Ms. Elliott’s latest endeavor – a TV show on UPN. Channel One is helping...
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Obligation has just reviewed November tapes of Channel One News and have found that the show is still considerably over the limit of 12 minutes. Most shows are 30 to 40 seconds over 12 minutes which is a violation of the contracts with many schools. Many schools have contracts that state Channel One News will deliver a 12-minute...
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On December 20, Channel One news anchors told the students that they would not be reporting on any news stories until January 3. That is a 15-day holiday for the crack news team at Channel One. Unfortunately for Channel One’s anchors and producers, the news doesn’t take a two-week break. On Christmas Day, the earthquake occurred in the...
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ALABAMA Alabama Department of Education Gordon Persons Office Building 50 North Ripley Street P.O. Box 302102 Montgomery, AL 36130-2101 (334) 242-9700 FAX: (334) 242-9708 E-Mail: erich@sdenet.alsde.edu URL: http://www.alsde.edu ALASKA Alaska Department of Education Suite 200 801 West 10th Street Juneau, AK 99801-1894 (907) 465-2800 FAX: (907) 465-4156 URL: http://www.educ.state.ak.us ARIZONA Arizona Department of Education...
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The nine-year campaign by Obligation to raise awareness of Channel One’s exploitation of schoolchildren has paid off. We are close to victory… Channel One News is “damaged goods.” Executives, staffers and advertisers have scurried off the “good ship” Channel One News. Revenues have plunged at the company. They had to move out of their fancy Madison Avenue offices. Schools...
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