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KIDS FIRST! NEWS 2002
Turning your TV Time into Quality Time

CQCM Newsletter Archive:
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002

June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002

 


 

2001

2000

1999

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1997


1997


E3 . Growth . In The Mix . Meg's Videos . Kudos to MCA . Technology News
E3 Atlanta (Electronic Entertainment Expo `97)
communiqués from KIDS FIRST!® Webmaster

Thu , 19 Jun 1997 9:15 AM
Hee, hee, hee... Hurrah for the virtual press office...
The coffee is bad, but press breakfast was good.

Anyway, HighLites from the Pre-Show Media Briefing:

  • No new consoles in market this year, conference is entirely content-oriented.
  • There is a surplus of product coming to market and higher distribution costs all the time. Also rising product development costs.
  • Growth in industry will mean less total product on shelves (more elite).
  • Video and computer games are second most popular form of distraction after TV.
  • Division in gaming is about 2/3 consoles (Sega/Nintendo) and 1/2 PCs (some people have both).
  • Consumer intent to buy learning games has risen from 25% in 96 to 35% in 1997.
  • Hours spent playing online games per week for the most avid game player in game-playing households has risen from 5 hours in 96 to almost 15 hours in 1997.
  • The largest challenge facing the industry is compelling content.
  • Of 500 exhibitors, only 2 independents target the "girl" market.
  • The female/girl demographic expansion is the "Holy Grail" of multimedia.
  • However, women are not making the buying decisions (in stores) for the purchase of computer games... they don't go out shopping "for" games. They do play them, once a male has purchased them.
  • Expected attendance at E3 Atlanta: 35-40 thousand.

Fri, 20 Jun 1997 10:07 AM
All anyone talks about is games, kill, kill, kill...
I bet these people have a large market in prisons - people who have time on their hands and just want to destroy things.

There are 10,400 licenses for game software, but only about an average of 250 spaces on retail shelves for games... meaning that the big guys will slowly squeeze out the independents?

Fri, 20 Jun 1997 1:04 PM
Well, for the first hour `twas fun.
The exhibit floor, as last year, is taken up mainly by computers set on platforms, with kids playing games. My eyes get weary fast from all the artificial smoke in the air, the obnoxiously loud sound effects that each booth turns up to be louder than the one next to it.

There are a few people that are concerned about quality children's programming, but it's more the attendees than the exhibitors. Most of the people attending are Mom & Pop stores that try out the products and set up distribution arrangements.

The conferences in general discuss the sorts of things that you read over and over again... I'm not hearing anything new, and though you can extract what you need, it's all tightly focused on destructive games.

A question was raised in a conference this morning on the future of PCs about wholesome entertainment, and was dodged completely. Most developers are working towards faster, better, brighter, bloodier, louder and bigger games.

Again, I know this is a gaming conference, but it's such an odd area of the human psyche that has grown to be such a huge market, and, now that military interests are not pushing technology as much, it is this marker that is pushing the development of the hardware/technology.

As Intel said, people do fine with their word processors and spreadsheets on older computers, it's the games that they play, which may consume ever increasing amounts of their "spare" time that drive them to spend $2000 - $5000 for a hobby that they can pass off as business related.


E3 . Growth . In The Mix . Meg's Videos . Kudos to MCA . Technology News

The changes and growth of KIDS FIRST!® in the last year are impressive!

  • 180 new endorsements in 1996
  • Evaluating interactive software
  • Redesigning our evaluation tools
  • Participating in the Washington TV ratings discussions
  • Completing our successful violence prevention initiative in New Mexico
  • Upgrading in-house hardware and software
  • Adjudicating over 200 titles
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WOW! This year, our KIDS FIRST!® Jurors contributed a half million dollars worth of professional time to the Coalition for Quality Children's Media. Thanks!

Here at last -The new KIDS FIRST!® Directory


E3 . Growth . In The Mix . Meg's videos . Kudos to MCA . Technology News

The Emmy Award winning PBS series IN THE MIX...

premieres "MEDIA LITERACY: TV! - WHAT YOU DON'T SEE" the week of May 17, 1997. Covering such topics as music videos, the daily news and advertising, this episode provides young people with the skills they need to become media savvy viewers. Hosted by Eddie Vichaidith and Andrea Barrow, the show takes a close look at the medium of television and teaches teenagers how to evaluate what they are watching. The audience will spend time with a television editor who reveals some of the techniques used in television to manipulate material, and meet ABC's veteran journalists Peter Jennings who offers his opinion on the truthfulness of television news. In addition, IN THE MIX examines hip hop music videos and the messages they convey, and visits an advertising agency to break down an ad campaign.

"MEDIA LITERACY: TV! - WHAT YOU DON'T SEE" debuts nationally on PBS and airs on affiliates throughout the week, including WNET/New York at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 18, 1997. Check your local listings or contact your PBS station for exact air dates and times. Discussion Guides to accompany the show are also available.

For more information, contact: In The Mix, 114 East 32nd St., Suite 903 New York, NY 10016, Tel.: 212.684.3940 Fax: 212.684.4015


E3 . Growth . In The Mix . Meg's Videos . Kudos to MCA . Technology News

MEG'S VIDEOS

The Coalition for Quality Children's Media donated a collection of videotapes to 17 children's hospitals this holiday season. These tapes were selected for their potential to benefit hospitalized children. Cheri Goldman, Director of the Child life Center at the University of New Mexico Children's Hospital, provided guidance in the selection criterion. The tapes were dedicated on behalf a young woman, Meg Clemens, who died from leukemia and whose mother initiated the project.

MANY THANKS to Liz Boshoven, CQCM's Jury Coordinator, for successfully launching this project
and to our supplier members who contributed tapes:

  • Children's Circle
  • Children's Television Workshop
  • Columbia Tri-Star
  • Family Home Entertainment/LIVE
  • FOX Home Entertainment
  • Hallmark Home Video
  • Lightyear Entertainment
  • Little Mammoth Media
  • The Lyons Group
  • MGM Home Video
  • Random House
  • Sony Wonder

The response from the hospitals has been overwhelming. Hospitalized children are unable to participate in many activities. Watching videos is a great distraction that helps boredom, fear and most of all, their growth and development.


E3 . Growth . In The Mix . Meg's Videos . Kudos to MCA . Technology News

KUDOS TO MCA

Few companies have addressed translating videos for physically challenged or culturally diverse kids. MCA recently released a translation of its KIDS FIRST!® All-Star Title, "The Land Before Time IV, Journey Through The Mists," in American Sign Language. "Sesame Street" actress, Linda Bove, provides the translation

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E3 . Growth . In The Mix . Meg's Videos . Kudos to MCA . Technology News

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

A group called 21st Century Teachers is forming to help each other use technology to enrich students' learning. The teachers pledge to build their own expertise in using new technologies; share their expertise and experience with colleagues; use their expertise with students; and make classroom technology available to all students and teachers. Each 21st Century teacher volunteers to train 5 colleagues in how to use technology as a tool to enrich students' classroom experience and improve the quality of education. Check out the 21st Century Teachers home page.


E3 . Growth . In The Mix . Meg's Videos . Kudos to MCA . Technology News
The new 68 page, four-color KIDS FIRST!® Directory is here at last!

Over 700 KIDS FIRST!®endorsed titles are included, with descriptions, Juror comments, and expert guidelines from child development specialists, educators, parents and kids.

Coalition members will be sent a copy as a benefit of membership. If your membership is not current, this is a good time to renew. Additional copies of the Directory are available for $5 each.

Call 1-505-989-8076 or order on-line today!

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Other organizations that support the KIDS FIRST!™ initiative are offering the Directory to their members and will generate a small profit from doing so. If you know an organization interested in doing this, please have them contact our office.


"People," from Lightyear Entertainment,
recipient of the Coalition's President's Award

 

With great pleasure I announce the selection of Lightyear's marvelous video title, "People," as a recipient of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media President's Award.

The extraordinary work of producer Joshua M. Greene celebrating diversity has created a new model for multicultural children's programming. I hope that many other children's producers will follow his lead in generating positive messages such as this. It is the type of work that contributes to social change.

I believe that only when we understand, accept and appreciate our culture and the culture of others can there be world peace. The acknowledgment of our "roots" is true cause for celebration.

 

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To quote the playwright, Vaclav Havel, as he addressed the people of Czechoslovakia as their president on New Year's Day 1990, "Only a person or a nation self-confident in the best sense of the word is capable of listening to the voice of others and accepting them as equal to oneself. Let us try to introduce self-confidence into the life of our community and into the conduct of nations."

The fine work of Joshua Greene and Lightyear Entertainment is the result of perseverance, talent and concern. I thank them for the gift they have provided to the children of the world.

Ranny Levy, President, Coalition for Quality Children's Media

 

Subscribe!

Subscribe to our monthly E-Zine to stay up to date on KIDS FIRST! initiatives. - FREE -

Your e-mail address:



(privacy)

KIDS FIRST! NEWS 2002
Turning your TV Time into Quality Time

CQCM Newsletter Archive:
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002

June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002

 


 

2001

2000

1999

1998

1998


1997


1997

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