television, digital media and children's learning - Victorian ...

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PART B – Regulatory and funding issues A whole-of-government perspective DISCUSSION This paper has been prepared at a time of widespread change within the Australian film and television industry. The Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) is undertaking a review of its Children's Television Standards. It has recently launched a website to help people participate in and understand digital media services – www.acma.gov.au/medialiteracy. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Special Broadcasting Service are also undergoing reviews, taking into account convergence and digitization. The Australian film Finance Corporation, the major funding bank for the industry has been merged into a new body, Screen Australia. The Australian Government’s broadband and digital plans, the role of ACMA and the reviews of the ABC and SBS are as central to the education revolution as are the government’s plans for reform of the education system for early childhood. It is suggested that the importance of media in the education of children has not been well recognised because there has not been a whole-of-government perspective linking education policy and communication policy, although now the need for computers and for fast broadband connections has been accepted. Health policies for children have not been seen as a core aspect of early childhood education. Child care funding has been premised on helping mothers in employment, not seen as an essential domain of early childhood development and learning. Some states, such as Victoria, have appointed a Minister for Children to attempt better crossdepartmental coordination and other states have a Children’s Commissioner. Such developments need to be carried through nationally with the appointment of a federal Children’s Media Commissioner who would advise governments and liaise with industry, education and community groups in the best interests of children and oversee the conduct of research on how the media affect children’s development and learning. FINDINGS 1. Communication and technology policies should be seen as integral to the nation’s education policy. 2. The Early Years Learning and Development Framework (ELDF) should have a clear focus on informal learning through media and technology. 3. Media education should be expanded beyond a narrow focus on media literacy skills to include the content and learning potential of all forms of the new digital media. 4. Rather than taking a narrow focus on students’ school readiness, or their later productivity the ELDF should focus on the sort of citizens we need our children to become. 12
5. The government should appoint a Children’s Media Commissioner to develop a framework for all government activity associated with children’s education, health and welfare with media at their core. Updated regulations for the digital age DISCUSSION Commercial television For thirty years, Australia has had a system requiring Children’s Television Standards (CTS) which are currently under review. The overall goal of the CTS is ‘to promote Australia’s identity, character and cultural diversity’, by requiring programs specifically designed for Australian children and protecting them from ‘harmful effects’. In brief, the CTS require that commercial TV networks broadcast annually 260 hours of children’s programs (C) and 130 hours of pre-school programs (P). Half of these must be first-release Australian content; all P programs must be Australian. Licensees must broadcast at least 96 hours of first-release Australian C drama over a three-year period, plus eight hours of repeat Australian drama. Given the enormous number of hours Australian children are watching (averaging over 5 hours a day), not much of it is ACMA-approved C or P material. Even the programs classified as P or C leave much to be desired. ABC and SBS In October 2008 the Australian Government called for submissions to review the future roles of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Special Broadcasting Service. (ABC and SBS: Towards a digital future. Discussion paper, www.dbcde.gov.au/abcsbsreview) The government is seeking to clarify the vision and direction of the ABC and SBS as creative and responsible public broadcasters in the era of convergence and digitisation. This review will include an examination of children's programming and the discussion paper expects ‘the national broadcasters could play an enhanced role in children's programming’. At the Australia 2020 Summit the final report stated, ‘the ABC would have a specific education role in classrooms and across all industry sectors. This should be supplemented by the ABC having a separate children's channel.’ Programming for children In October, 2008, Australian P classified programs broadcast on the commercial networks included: Commercial networks ABC • Puzzle Play (Ten) • Here's Humphrey (Nine) • Disney Playhouse (Seven) • Play School • Bananas in Pyjamas • In the Night Garden (UK) • Sesame Street (USA). Other programs classified and approved by ACMA as fulfilling their criteria for programming suitable for pre-schoolers, but not screened in October, include: • All for Children • For Children • How2 with the Hooley Dooleys • New McDonald's Farm • Raggs • Rock it • The Fairies • Hi 5 • Arts Alive • Bambaloo 13
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