Ypulse Essentials: VMA Side Story, Final Chapter Of 'Reading Rainbow', Maine Predatory Marketing Law Under Fire
‘VMA Side Story’ (Host Russell Brand and an ensemble of celebs spoof “West Side Story” in this lengthy, slightly off-key promo for MTV’s upcoming Video Music Awards. Also Britney’s back.. in another promo with Russell Brand. And Boston.com finds ‘Pranked’ MTV’s new prank wars show uninspired) (Daily Mail) (U Talk Marketing)
- End of the ‘Rainbow’ (PBS ends “Reading Rainbow” after a 26-year run because it teaches kids why to read instead of how to read. Plus elsewhere on NPR a debate over whether educational television can teach literacy is stirred up in comments) (NPR) (via SLJ on Twitter)
- Disney makes “wholesome” Selena Gomez a star (this fall. No doubt, in hopes of dimming the less-than-wholesome recent antics of Miley. Speaking of.. the controversial teen pop star appeared on “The Today Show” to perform and talked briefly about her “mistakes”)
- ‘Support The Lesser Known Youth Causes’ (Jason Bakker from Campus Media Group shares some invaluable advice with brands who want to get involved with a cause) (MediaPost, reg. required)
- Who Ted Kennedy was to Gen Y’ers (interesting piece from the AP on how young people knew Kennedy as a grandfatherly figure who endorsed Obama and “got it.” Also Robbie Williams tops MTV Super Star poll .. in the UK) (AP)
- Shmoop (a multiplatform study resource for high school students) (CNET)
- Maine Predatory Marketing Law comes under fire (as Reed Elsevier and other groups seek an injunction against the legislature for violating the First Amendment and preempting the regulations set in place by COPPA. Plus groups push lawmakers on behavioral targeting of kids and teens online) (Broadcasting & Cable)
- ‘King of Tween Comedies’ (nice profile on Dan Schneider, a former teen star, and the creative force behind many of Nickelodeon’s hits) (The Vindicator)
- Has Gen Y lost fluency in non-verbal cues? (An opinion piece in WSJ scolds young workers for their inability to communicate face-to-face. Not sure that’s just a generational shortcoming. Also a study finds that even though Gen Y is the most environmentally aware, they’re also some of the biggest wasters. Yikes) (Reuters)
- More restrictions on texting teen drivers (are passed in New York) (Newsday)