The American Experience in Television: Self-Regulation and Ownership Rules
		March 10, 1995 Co-Sponsored with the Bertelsmann Foundation, Germany Organizer: Rona Buchalter American television is the most highly developed commercial media system and has been an extraordinarily powerful model for the rest of the world. This event will examine two factors in America's attempt to achieve public interest television programming within a commercially competitive system: a) the American television industry's expereince with self-regulation; and b) the American television industry's experience with regulation of concentrated media ownership. Papers and discussion will consider th relationship between self regulation, ownership rules and the achievement of socially responsible television programming. The day will involved closed-session discussions among high-level media, government, public interest, and academic participants, with their discussions and con clusions to be presented to the public in an open session that evening. Papers to be presented include: The American Experience in TV-Industry Self-Regulation of Program Content. Mark McCarthy, Executive Vice President, Wexler Group Self-Regulation of Non-Program Broadcast Content. Les Brown, Director, Center for Communications The Self-Rating Experience of the American Film Industry Richard Heffner, Chairman of the Board, Motion Picture Industries Film Classification and Rating Administration The American Experience in Regulation of Media Concentration and Ownership Henry Geller, Fellow, Markle Foundation The Impact of Ownership Concentration on Content: Does it Matter? Ben Compaine, Professor, Temple University