COX Cox Comm CL A SC23

Cox Communications and WAM! Hold Live Town Hall Meeting to Spark Parent/Child Dialogue About Responsible Television Viewing "Every parent needs to be involved in deciding what appropriate TV viewing is for children," says Anne Thompson, National PTA Board Member NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- As the national debate about TV decency continues, a national panel of educators, journalists and media experts along with a diverse audience of parents and kids agreed that the solution to responsible TV viewing lies firmly in the home. The WATCH OUT! town hall meeting sponsored by Cox Communications and Starz Entertainment Group's WAM! channel was broadcast from Cox studios in greater New Orleans and was carried live by Cox systems from coast to coast. The town hall meeting was part of Cox's Take Charge campaign, which helps parents make smart choices about their family's TV and Internet viewing habits. The springboard for the lively discussion was WAM!'s award-winning original series "Table Talk: How Far is Too Far?," the latest installment in the critically acclaimed series, "Table Talk: Real Families Face Real Issues" funded by the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation. Cox Communications and WAM! held the town hall meeting, WATCH OUT! to encourage family dialogue about responsible television viewing and to provide parents and kids with tools to make positive and informed viewing choices in their homes. Cox Communications broadcasted the show live on Cox Channel 10. In addition, the show was made available to Cox systems across the country including, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla., Cleveland, Oh., Omaha, Neb., Virginia Beach, Va., and throughout the Gulf Coast of Florida. "The Watch Out participants were well-versed in how important it is to interpret the TV images and content that comes into our homes," said Midge Pierce, vice president, WAM! programming. "The Cox Take Charge initiative is an excellent fit with WAM's teen entertainment mission and our dedication to providing young people with tools to become successful adults." "Parents enjoy having many choices for their entertainment and news, but they want help in monitoring and making the most of the mass media content coming into their homes," said Ellen East, vice president, public affairs of Cox Communications. "Take Charge helps to empower parents." Other elements of the Take Charge campaign include a Web site (http://www.cox.com/takecharge), which is a central repository of helpful information. In a recent survey, Cox learned that almost 60 percent of parents believe parental controls on cable boxes are the most valuable monitoring tool for TV, so the site features step-by-step instructions on activating those controls. Additional online tools include tips for responsible Internet, TV and telephone use; a family media usage contract; a resource list to help identify good educational programming; links to valuable web sites; ongoing features on protecting families; and games, quizzes and other fun offerings that educate children about safe usage practices. Public service announcements featuring campaign spokesman John Walsh are also airing throughout Cox markets and a printed Take Charge! resource guide is available upon request at http://www.cox.com/takecharge. The studio audience included students from New Orleans, Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Bernard parish schools. The panel guests included, Bob McCannon, executive director, New Mexico Media Literacy Project, Charles Zewe, national news reporter and former CNN correspondent, Dr. Bill Rosenbaum, licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist, Fern Halford, licensed clinical social worker, the Parenting Center, Dr. Anthony Recasner, director and principal, New Orleans Charter Middle School, and Anne Thompson, member, Board of Directors, National PTA. The discussion was moderated by Shauna Sanford, newscaster, WWL-TV New Orleans. "Every parent needs to be involved in deciding what appropriate TV viewing is for children," said Anne Thompson, national board member, PTA. "Even sexual topics are good opportunities to discuss provocative issues." Charles Zewe, national news reporter and former CNN correspondent commented that it is not what kids watch but how they watch that matters. "Media reflects culture. Without guidance from parents TV viewing can be dangerous. When parents sit and discuss TV it's an opportunity to express their values. It is equally important for children to express themselves." "Kids need a value system," said Bob McCannon, executive director, New Mexico Media Literacy Project. "I agree with the idea that we cannot allow appliances to raise our kids." In terms of specific tools that parents can use in their households to help kids understand media, McCannon suggested asking leading questions. "By asking kids questions about the media, it gives them an opportunity to learn important life skills." Several experts noted that at the core of providing effective viewing boundaries in the home for children is quality parenting and value training at an early age. "We as parents are their role models. We provide their first value system," Fern Halford, L.C.S.W., the Parenting Center, Children's Hospital, New Orleans. "Parents can provide a positive influence even if the media does not. While viewing television, parents can help children distinguish fact from fiction." "There is no substitute for effective parenting and teaching values that will guide children," Dr. Anthony Recasner, director and principal of New Orleans Charter Middle School. "Parents should respond when children are asking questions about TV, or even raise inquiries themselves to the children about what is appropriate content." "You cannot start too early in helping kids to know what is appropriate content," said Dr. Bill Rosenbaum, licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist. "The goal is not to shield them from the world, but prepare them to enter the world." Zewe also noted that news programming can be used to emphasize that actions have consequences. "News can be disturbing. Parents need to tell children when they see something wrong, that it is wrong." Interestingly enough audience and panel members overwhelmingly agreed that the Super Bowl incident was blown out of proportion. Moderator Shauna Sanford remarked at the end of the meeting that the discussion provided a platform for national dialogue. "At the end of every day it is up to parents and their children to decide what TV shows are appropriate to view in their homes. Let the conversation continue." About Cox Cox Communications (NYSE:COX), a Fortune 500 company, is a multi-service broadband communications company with approximately 6.6 million total customers, including 6.3 million basic cable subscribers. The nation's third-largest cable television provider, Cox offers both analog cable television under the Cox Cable brand as well as advanced digital video service under the Cox Digital Cable brand. Cox provides an array of other communications and entertainment services, including local and long distance telephone under the Cox Digital Telephone brand; high-speed Internet access under the Cox High Speed Internet brand; and commercial voice and data services via Cox Business Services. Local cable advertising, promotional opportunities and production services are sold under the Cox Media brand. Cox is an investor in programming networks including Discovery Channel. More information about Cox Communications can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.cox.com/. About WAM! WAM! is the first and only 24-hour commercial-free channel dedicated entirely to providing kid-friendly, socially-responsible entertainment to tweens and teens. WAM! offers primetime movies every night, plus comedy, drama, music, lifestyle and sci-fi series that reflect contemporary teen life. WAM! also features originals that provide "reality with a conscience" and entertaining, educational specials that guide young people from child to adulthood. For more information on WAM! contact us at . About Starz Entertainment Group Starz Entertainment Group (SEG) is the largest provider of premium movie services in the United States with approximately 167 million pay units. SEG offerings include the Starz Super Pak(R), with up to 13 digital movie channels and more than 750 movies per month, Starz On Demand(R), the only on-demand pay TV subscription service available on the cable and satellite platforms, and its broadband equivalent, STARZ! Ticket(SM). SEG also offers a suite of advanced video offerings, including STARZ! HD(SM), Encore HD(SM), and Starz On Demand HD(SM). Starz Entertainment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE:LNYSE:LMCb), http://www.starz.com/. Contacts: Daneen Storc Chelsye J. Burrows Cox Communications Starz Entertainment Group 504.301.3511 720.852-5838 DATASOURCE: WAM! CONTACT: Daneen Storc of Cox Communications, +1-504-301-3511, ; or Chelsye J. Burrows of Starz Entertainment Group, +1-720-852-5838, Web site: http://www.cox.com/takecharge http://www.cox.com/ http://www.starz.com/

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