As a new father, the article is of interest.

While my Mrs is not as eager as I for our baby to watch tv, I see no harm. ABC-2 has a number of educational kids shows on them and keeps my baby amused sometimes when she appears a bit distressed. Given she is just 6 months old, she is probably attracted by the colours and noises.

As far as multinational dominated tv, I dont really know what you are getting at.

TV choices are up to the adult. I personally mostly watch SBS and ABC, and sport.

In fact, I will argue that tv is one of my best sources of info about the issues around the world. Last night I observed a Bangladesh woman pouring acid down her sister's son out of jealousy. I never get enough time to watch what I have recorded from non-commercial tv alone.

In moderation, tv can be an important part of a child's or adult's education.

Fact that most watch so-called rubbish is a consequence of people wanting to escape the boredom of their lives. Who can blame them? Only a boring frak like me enjoys watching doom and gloom current affairs, although I equally love sport and nature shows and a good movie.

What to do about it? No easy answer. Certainly not state control. I would never contemplate a one hour time limit for my kid. Seh would miss too much good stuff.

Good parents will seek balance in their family's life through a wide range of activities, although what are the best activities will always be subjective.

Personally, I love tv. I watch it an average 5 hours a day. I would watch it more if I had an option besides work.

i have not had broadcast TV of any kind in my house for three years now. my children (6 & 8) have to negotiate and choose a DVD if they wanna watch the screen, both play computer games appropriate for their age and only for an hour or so a day. there is no problem with this, they don't care. for myself i consider Australian broadcast TV to be just about the worst there is, nothing actually worth watching, and the good rare ABC or SBS content does not compensate for the endless rubbish as far as i'm concerned. i also no longer buy newspapers and don't recieve junk mail, and i have no interest in sport so overall i live in a world that is comparatively advertisement free, with news from on line sources and streamed public and community radio of various kinds .

i thoroughly recommend it, having the slime oozing out of your TV set is not compulsory (yet), and while it cuts down one's options for conversations at work.....it does however allow time for a relatively real life ;-)

Chris
Congratulations. Got her a 'Che' tee yet? ;-)
Did you see the ABC program on Child leaning? The research that 'may' show that babies have quantitative comprehension...Consumerists from the womb?
tv primary source of information...I'm surprised.

Helen,
While I see where you're coming from and applaud your motivation I fear you are doing a king Kanute, unless you totally isolate the children.
What do you think the children at school talk about? Your children will be aware of your disapproval and simply not tell you about it.
e.g. Despite banning the negative heroes like 'Simpsons' steering our children to more positive activities. However, when alone out came all the "don't have a cow" sayings and associated attitudes .

I agree that most tv is self .... increasingly desensitising, dehumanising sensational overload e.g. Not the format difference between 60's talent shows formulas
and that of 'idol' with it's concentration on suspense,contestant discomfort and unnecessarily harsh comments.

Then increasing manufactured soft porn voyeurism of that escapee from a second year psych student's drug addled nightmares "Big Brother" and now 'Dance your Ass Off'

Big Media argument of 'turn it off' is disingenuous at least

One could argue it is a subconscious justification "see I'm not so bad ...others are worse" or life by default.

Our vicarious involvement in group identification is simply proof of our need for personal identity confirmation. Why else do people get so emotional over sport.

In reality media is driven by maximisation profit and to hell with personal responsibility i.e. the least cost and charge the most.
Reality tv is cheaper than quality...The public are condition to think in manufactured information slanted information poor sound bites which facilitates the owners business and
information dubious but sensational ads.

I guess I'm saying that the media is geared for the lowest common denominator because they're the easiest to persuade and part with their money. Outside total censorship it isn't going to change soon. It's up to each of to preparing our children to deal with the yang (yin and yang ), dark side of society

"Despite banning the negative heroes like 'Simpsons' steering our children to more positive activities. However, when alone out came all the "don't have a cow" sayings and associated attitudes..."...

durrrrr..well of course...if the attitudes are now inherent in youth culture why would they need the TV to acquire them?...they are gonna acquire them anyway....and preparing them for all those nasty evils of society involves a lot more than watching TV, might better involve, maybe, errrr, being a parent, getting out more, discussing culture, being critical and analytical about cultural product not subservient to it..TV is increasingly irrelevant to contemporary culture formation anyway(social networking is far more influencial). TV is the least of their worries.. ;-)

examinator,

For myself, tv current affairs (dateline, Insight, Foreign Correspondent, Four Corners, Cutting edge, and many others) do give myself and others a basic awareness of many issues I would not have known about.

I simply do not have the time to read about everything, although I am always eager about nay info which may challenge my perspective.

For myself, if I want to take up any issue I see on tv or hear on radio, I will do much further research from written sources.

But I am not ashamed to say it. I even learn from tabloid current affairs show.

I have never been one to be selective about where I get ideas or info from.

Even after years at uni, I respect the intellect and ideas of each person I meet or listen to and judge each accordingly on the power of their ideas or experience.

Believe me, many so-called experts are often just another opinion, albeit many feel they have superior qualifications.

A subject close to my heart, but all to easy to be hypocritical about. I watch TV...mainly sport, but some current affairs too and (shock horror!) the odd sit-com. However, at the same time I find that about 30-60mins (other than sport) is enough and then it is time to find something a bit more creative to do. Too much television stifles imagination (in my opinion) and does not do much except mould children into consumer clones. Far more stimulating to read a book from which you can draw your own pictures, get physically active, or even learn a new skill.

excellent article. and i don't think it's simply an issue of good TV versus bad TV, though bad tv is truly appalling. it's the fundamental passivity that TV encourages which is the danger.

Chris,
I too watch those shows but not the tabloid ones their bias is too much dubious rabble rousing, insufficient facts too sensationally entertainmentised (just made up the word)

I guess my concern with the media is that it isn't passive hence reporters have virtually ceased to exist, we now have journalists, columnists, commentators ad nausium. We don't get objectivity anymore we get balance (sic). Two opposing rants neither of which are particularly informative.

I agree the likes of you and I research an issue but the average punter doesn't. Conditioned to accept quasi experts columnists, talk back radio showmen like Jones' opinions are both sound and thought through.

To me the differences between bias/prejudice are objectivity and all facts. Opinions should be based on facts, objectivity not B&P and certainly not as in the case of big media journalism.

I was not impugning you in anyway just surprised. I would have phrased it for me, as the serious shows seed the search of facts. Perhaps I over interpreted....Sorry.
I'll now stand in the naughty corner. ;-)