Television is a vast wasteland for education.

1. Junk Food TV
TV as entertainment and a national liability
A study involving 187 students, conducted by Professor Glenn Sparks of Purdue
University, found that exposure to a variety of "speculation" based television
The climate is very
ripe for a breeding shows heightens belief in the paranormal and pseudoscience. And when that
ground of the most exposure is constant, says University of Oregon psychologist Ray Hyman, each
convincing virtual
unreality. new repetition of a paranormal tale, even when related with a skeptical tone,
makes it more and more believable. Many scientist and educators are worried
that the proliferation of shows that relentlessly peruse the bizarre are contributing
to the public's scientific illiteracy, which they regard as a national liability.
TV shows that promote pseudo-science and misinformation
- "Encounters" - prime time on Sunday-night, Fox Network
No claims seem too - "In Search Of..." - A&E Cable Television
far-out for the ratings- - "Sightings" - weekly syndicated on 205 stations;
hungry television
executives. - "The Extraordinary" - weekly syndicated on 114 stations,
- "The Other Side"- a daily NBC talk show
- "Unsolved Mysteries" - NBC.
- "X-files" - Fox Network
Network, cable, and syndicated television story segments
- "A Dead Celebrity is Taking Over My Life"
- "A Ghost Named Sallie"
- "Communicating With The Dead"
Some television
producer privately - "JFK Still Lives"
acknowledge that - "My Co-Worker Is a Ghost"
many of the subjects
presented are pure - "My Pet is Psychic"
hokum, but ultimately - "People From Another Time Dimension"
harmless.
- "Psychic Peeping Toms"
Or are they? - "The Face On Mars"
- "The FBI Is Hiding Dead Aliens"
- "The Most Haunted Mansion In America"
- "UFO Hot Spots"