The paper discusses the importance of prosocial behavior from the media and its effects on children. The paper reviews several research studies on prosocial and media on children. The paper also offers implications and limitations dealings with prosocial behavior and media on children.

Since the creation of "Sesame Street", children's educational television programs have grown in both number and popularity. However, controversy has shadowed the children's television arena for many years. Some have claimed that viewing television is a passive event, requiring little or no effort on the part of the viewer. However, research on…

Considers the confrontation between the Federal Trade Commission and marketers/broadcasters over the regulation of children's television advertising, illustrating the effects of ethical conduct on public policy. (Author/RL)

Traces the children's television advertising policy dispute from 1970 to the termination of its most recent phase by the Federal Trade Commission in 1981. Suggests that concerned groups might have more impact on children's advertising policy by working outside the regulatory administrative process. (PD)

Research studies on the influence of the viewing environment on children's attention to television and the amount of television viewed are reviewed, as well as control of television viewing through environmental design and what is known about the kinds of environments depicted on television. How television can influence the development of our…

Describes the Children's Television Workshop (CTW) production model, a general process model utilized in the production of "Sesame Street" and all other CTW productions. The model's assumptions are explicated and its effectiveness is assessed using Scriven's logic of evaluation. (MBR)

Notes that the proposed regulation of children's television advertising may eliminate competition, increase consumer costs, and result in poorer programing. (RL)

From 1969 to 1993 the definition of program length commercials has not been consistent. The FCC's first involvement with program length commercials was in 1969 when "Hot Wheels," a cartoon based on Mattel Corporation's Hot Wheels cars, was alleged to be nothing more than a 30 minute commercial. The FCC made no formal ruling but did…

Argues that the FCC prefers an unregulated marketplace for children's programing, but that it has not been shown that the marketplace will work for this program type. (FL)

Analyzed 175 episodes of 41 different cartoons to determine gender representation in children's cartoons. Findings show stereotypical representations of males and females, with males being given more prominence and appearing and talking more frequently. Pre- and post-1980 comparisons show a trend towards much less stereotypical gender portrayal,…

Included in this newsletter are abstracts of recent articles and books on television violence and related topics. Literature searched includes psychiatry, psychology, and communications periodicals as well as a wide range of the social science literature. Also abstracted are items from both the industrial and the lay press, and the actions of…

Considers how definitions of teaching and learning have informed educational broadcasters' rationales for their work and how these are manifested in the textual strategies of specific programs. A theoretical framework for accounting for the ways educational television seeks to implicate its viewers in the learning process is then developed. (RP)

Literature dealing with the effects of the television program "Sesame Street" on preschool children's learning and behavior is examined. The bulk of the paper consists of annotations which provide (1) background information on the program's evolution, goals and objectives, and format; (2) information on the effectiveness of the program…

Examines current research on the role of television in children's learning. Assesses evidence that television can play a positive teaching role and suggests a model for evaluating television's impact on viewers. Concludes that current programing limits the positive effects of television on children's learning. (JMF)

Presents guidelines for the use of humor in children's educational television. Reviews the literature in the following areas: (1) audience attraction; (2) post-choice attention; (3) acquisition of educational information and (4) the viewing experience in hedonic terms. (FMW)