Tag Archives: ratings

Setting Playstation 3 Parental Controls

The Sony Playstation 3 has got to be one of the best video game systems out there, especially with its coveted Blu-Ray DVD player. Unfortunately, though, out of all of the popular video game systems, the Playstation 3 is probably the one with the most violent and bloody games. There are probably only a handful of games that are appropriate for children. If you do have young children (or even older ones) in your home, you should probably set up the parental controls for your system. Here is how to do just that. Unlike the other popular video game systems, … Continue reading →

Katie’s Popularity Nosedive

I hate when critics turn out to be right. Hordes of them lined up to voice their negativity when Katie Couric decided to leave her cushy job at NBC’s “Today” show to take the quantum leap of becoming the first female solo anchor of a nightly news program. That was nearly 10 months ago… and now it seems their taunts may becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. According to a new Gallup Poll survey, one-third of Americans say they have a negative view of Katie Couric. What’s more, those same people say Couric’s personal popularity lags behind rivals Charles Gibson and Brian … Continue reading →

Choosing the Type of Adoption that is Right for You

What things should you consider in choosing which type of adoption (domestic infant adoption, state child welfare system adoption, or international adoption) is right for you? (Note: each of these three main types of adoption is described in a blog posted by me earlier this week.) Here are some suggested things to think about: 1.What age child do you wish to adopt? 2.What special needs might you be willing to work with? 3.Would you consider siblings? 4.How comfortable are you with the idea of meeting the birthparent(s)? With ongoing contact? 5.How would children of different races be accepted by your … Continue reading →

Katie’s Big Week

Looks like the hype paid off. Katie Couric’s historic debut as the first female solo anchor of a nightly newscast hit the mark. At least that’s what the ratings show. As for her performance reviews—well, it seems everyone’s a critic. Four days after one of the most talked-about debuts in television history Couric is sitting on top of the heap. Opening night she blasted the competition. According to Neilsen Media Research, nearly 13.6 million people watched Couric’s debut–that’s nearly double the average audience for the “CBS Evening News” last week, and the program’s biggest audience since February 16, 1998, in … Continue reading →

Are Media Rating Systems Working?

In March families.com computer writer Adam West described video game ratings, as did parenting writer Niki Bradley, and everyone knows what movie ratings stand for, T.V. ratings are understood by most parents as well. Yet recently many parents and politicians are arguing that the ratings are not doing their job. The number one reason is that the ratings vary so much from media to media. Every media has different rating labels: E for everyone on a video game or G for general audience on a movie. Music doesn’t even having a rating system, just warning labels if the music contains … Continue reading →

American Idol: Is It Appropriate For Kids?

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Let me start by saying I am an American Idol fan, and tune in every week. The show has turned into as much of an addiction as coffee for me. I work as a video editor for a local television station in my town. Each morning after American Idol airs I am responsible for putting together a two minute piece on the previous nights show to air during our morning newscast re-capping the performances and results for the contestants from North Carolina. This season there have been several statements made on the show that have had our morning producers asking … Continue reading →

A Parent’s Guide to Video Game Ratings

The Entertainment Software Rating Board ( ESRB ) was created in 1994 as a means of independently assessing and rating video and computer games for content and age-appropriateness. Many parents are unaware that, while completely voluntary, almost all retail software and video games sold today contain an ESRB rating. The ESRB considers aspects of game content that are of concern to most families in our society: violence, sexual content, offensive language, and substance abuse. The rating is then broken down into two parts: the rating symbol and the content descriptors. The rating symbol is located on the front of the … Continue reading →

Movie Ratings Breakdown

Ratings on movies are based on what most American parents would consider the most appropriate, according to a film rating board appointed by the Classification and Rating Administration. Criteria the rating board uses are theme, language, violence, drugs, nudity and sex. Ratings have nothing to do with quality. G movies are for the General Audience. These films do not contain anything that should be considered offensive. Parents can feel at ease that their children aren’t exposed to nudity, sex, violence or language beyond everyday expressions. PG movies suggest Parental Guidance. These movies may contain elements that some parents may not … Continue reading →

Video Game Ratings Breakdown

Although we’ve heard not to judge books by their covers, concerned parents should definitely give video game covers a close look before allowing their children a go. The ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) assigns over 1,000 ratings each year. They supply two tools that parents can use to base their decision on: a rating system to indicate their main age recommendation and a content description. Rating symbols can be found on the front of the game box: The mildest is marked EC, meaning Early Childhood. These games are considered suitable for ages 3 and up. They contain no material that … Continue reading →