Viewers Want Better TV Political Coverage

Numerous polls show that the public wants a different kind of television election coverage - with increased focus on where candidates stand on issues and more coverage of lesser-known candidates. This is not likely to happen soon, says DePauw University communications professor Jeffrey McCall. That's because it's easier and cheaper to cover elections by discussing the latest poll numbers and celebrity supporters and by showing and analyzing Hillary Clinton’s teary eyes.

News Sources: Writers' Strike and Jay Leno

"Tonight Show" host Jay Leno could face disciplinary action from the Writers Guild of America for writing his monologue while the nearly 2-month-old writers strike continues. The WGA has been on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers since Nov. 5, halting the production of many TV shows. Among other outstanding issues, writers and producers are fighting over how much compensation writers should receive when TV shows and movies are streamed or downloaded over the Internet. Reporters looking for experts to interview on this topic can find them online at the collegenews.org databse of news sources and subject matter experts from America's leading liberal arts colleges, including the following (click on names for contact infomation):

Jeffrey M. McCall - Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, DePauw University - A former broadcaster himself, Dr. McCall has analyzed the content of television news broadcasts, manages the student-run radio station and has written nationally on issues related to the media. His special area of interest is media coverage of politics.

Janet C. Goulet - Professor of Economics, Wittenberg University - Goulet is former director of Center for Labor Management Cooperation, and has been published in the Journal of Consumer Credit Management and the Journal of Behavioral Economics. She has servced as an arbitrator for the Ohio Employee Relations Board, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the American Arbitration Association.

Gary Chaison - Professor of Industrial Relations, Clark University - An expert in collective bargaining, labor movements and union organizing extensively, Chaison is one of the most widely regarded scholars on unions worldwide.

Former CNN Analyst Says Networks Need "Reality Check"

DePauw Visiting Professor Ken Bode was a long-time political analyst for CNN. After watching CNN's Democratic presidential debate last week, Bode says somebody in the network's executive suites needs a reality check on fairness. At the same time, he says, things are no better at competitor Fox News.

Entire Nation Rejects "Kid Nation"

The controversial CBS reality show "Kid Nation" is tanking. Its ratings are down about 25 percent since its debut and it currently finishes last in its time slot. DePauw communications professor Jeffrey M. McCall says it shows Americans don’t appreciate a network exploiting kids for crass financial gain.

Local TV News Audiences Value Quality over Hype

The largest study of local television news ever undertaken bucks the conventional wisdom on what viewers want to watch. Wellesley College's Marion Just, one of the researchers who conducted the five-year study. says the study shows viewers aren't as interested as commonly believed in hyped story lines that emphasize danger, dirt, doom and gloom. She says local TV news could improve ratings by following the rules of good journalism -- putting in the effort to get good stories, finding and balancing sources, seeking out experts, and making stories relevant to the local audience.

Remote-Control Kids

Leaders in researching television's impact on kids say the media's overwhelming influence on kids should be considered a national public health issue. DePauw University communications professor Jeffrey M. McCall says legislators are gearing up to respond to such calls, but he warns that legislative initiatives can't help kids whose parents ignore their duty.