Fire Season 2004; Presidential Campaign Update; Should Advertising to Young Children be Curbed?
Fire Season 2004
It is fire season, and two fires are already burning in the Southland--one in Temecula and one on Camp Pendleton. Southern California is dry and it has been experiencing record-breaking hot weather. Forestry and fire officials join Host Larry Mantle to discuss the fire conditions in Southern California. Joining Larry is Jane Scribner, Public Information Officer for the Riverside County Fire Department; Dick Hayes, Deputy Chief of Public Education for the California Department of Forestry; Stanton Florea, Fire Information Officer for the Angeles National Forest, and Ruth Wenstrom, Public Affairs Officer for the San Bernardino National Forest.
Presidential Campaign Update
Larry talks with Lenny Steinhorn, Professor of Communications, American University, Arnold Steinberg, California-based political strategist, and Ron Elving, senior Washington Editor, NPR, about the presidential campaigns and their effectiveness so far. They discuss the strengths and weaknesses of recent campaign TV advertising, the apparent campaign strategies and how “real world” events are likely to influence the presidential election.
Should Advertising to Young Children be Curbed?
The American Psychological Association recently became the nation’s first professional organization recommending federal restrictions on advertising aimed at children under eight years of age. The task force appointed by the Association called for specific restrictions on the marketing of junk food, violent toys, and toys promoting precocious sexuality, on the grounds that young children are developmentally vulnerable to manipulation by advertising messages. Larry Mantle talks with task force member Dr. Susan Linn. He also talks with USC sociologist Karen Sternheimer, who believes that marketing and the media are scapegoats for current social problems.