European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 8, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cable satellite Public affairs network to democracy ultimate fall exposure by Jill Lawrence associated press the House of representatives crept into Nelda Thompsons life when she happened to catch a live congressional debate while watching television at a friends House in los i would kill to have she in Thompsons there is a general a a Gas a few Hundred residents and very poor television so the 68yearold woman bought a satellite and like millions of others across the she has a ringside House seat via the Cable satellite Public affairs network it brings the whole world so very close to says a retired when in Home during the Day i have it on constantly except when the Chi Cago cubs Are Thompson is among an estimated million viewers who tune in each month to Congress or other government which constitutes the sole fare offered by c never before have so Many people peered so closely into the democratic and thousands More have the Opportunity each month As More Cable companies sign Span is the ultimate in full exposure an amalgam of the Boring and the the trivial and the All of it singularly unadulterated by journalists asking questions or explaining what it All the around Hemlock format features uninterrupted House committee hear caucuses and the Senate has not yet agreed to be but Many believe that it is just a matter of the House coverage provoked bitter outbursts last year when democratic speaker Thomas annoyed that republicans were using free air time at the end of each Day to lambast his ordered c Span cameras to pan the chamber to show viewers that the energetic speakers were addressing an empty this democrats Are fighting Back with after hours speeches of their in addition to partisan viewers have been treated to or subjected to an evening at an Iowa floor debate on illegal and mum bling scientists at an obscure hearing on a re cent months lineup included a conference of the re serve officers the postal and a speech by supreme court Justice John Paul some View televised proceedings As just one More government but other observers believe c Span is a More potent Washington Post television critic Tom Shales called the network a Pivotal moment in the life of the newly emerging wired Vilius Brazenas of Bonita a lithuanian immigrant who lived under nazi and communist re Gimes before coming to the United told Span it is an electronic town meeting of the Steve a spokesman for the National Republican con Gressional says that last in congressional districts capable of receiving the level of involvement was higher and the level of information was certainly wed Fly to some Small town in the Midwest and people at a cocktail party would know what went on that Day in Congress and be Able to talk to us about says who travelled to 40 states with Guy Vander the committee there were new recruits of people who normally  be spurred to Span enabled people to see the clearcut differences Between the Lotterer says Many people told him they leave c Span on All Day As if it were a and Telephone friends when a big vote or other important action is coming Michael a social scientist who conducted the Only research to Date on Calls this Type of person a Span from a Survey of 900 Cable Homes last novem Robinson concluded that Span is watched in million of the 20 million Homes it reaches via a non profit cooperative of Cable with several potential viewers in each the sur vey estimated that million people Are peering into the democratic process each and 20 percent of them Are Span nuts addicted to Long hours of House politics and an essay contest last year on spans fifth anniversary attracted testimonials from people like Thompson and her 18yearold Mike Kelling who submitted a jointly written 46line poem and won themselves a free trip to last years democratic National convention in san their masterpiece was an ode to an incurable obsession with Span when the Gavel descends and that Flag is the House is in alls right with the there Are scholars and elite mingled with Nincompoop sounding like its a dialogue filled with drama and that i sacrifice everything else to other Span essayists were equally Donna a minister in says c Span helped her choose her 1984 presidential Candi Therese a says Span has relieved her from soap operas and Joyce Chiappazzi of says c Span transformed her from a Spectator into a True citizen of this Mary Ann a retired Kentucky newspaper re predicted she will soon be out marching for causes i never dreamed about before i got hooked on c but these born again activists Are not says who is director of the Media analysis project Span covering the National governors conference in Washington earlier this the network provides uninterrupted coverage of Congress and other government business to million at George Washington University in Washington and coauthor of a Book on news coverage of the 1980 i was stunned by the size of the Span Robinson but the overwhelming majority of people watching Are passive watching is not Span can stimulate but we Are not talking about a sea of in terms of Concrete he predicted Span will bring about marginal increases in voter the intensity of Public opinion and the degree to which representatives reflect their constituents Media analyst William coauthor of the Book called television coverage of the 1980 foresees a More significant role for he speculated that even casual Span viewers will be More aware of the House and better informed about he says dedicated viewers could create a Ripple effect through Campaign political contributions and discussions with Robinsons Survey found that 93 percent of Span viewers voted in the 1984 presidential election 18 Points higher than no viewers and 40 Points higher than the a photo National Span viewers also were twice As Likely As no viewers to know the answers to several questions about current but there is a consensus while Span May be an educating its viewers generally Start out politically exceptional that they tune in because they Are interested and informed in the first that Doest bother Span editor chief Brian who notes that state legislators and the president who has twice phoned the station during Callin programs Are among those who watch there not a mass but there movers and people whore says he said c Span Doest have the Money yet to reach out to unconverted but recently began an aggressive drive for corporate former Richard starred in a 1982 c Span extravaganza devoted to a Day in his life As a con Gressman possibly the longest program Ever on Televik he said Span has value even if it reaches Only a limited anything that increases the understanding and interest of some people in this country is boiling when people have an Opportunity to look at representatives making fools of themselves or being in the Long that former Charles is less certain that a completely televised process is beneficial to the coun in his 1982 the House and foreign he argues that opening up House procedures led to demagoguery on foreign policy issues and amendments not in the Best interests of the but he concedes that you cant go Back to a less open Thompson and her grandson would heartily by Janice Kalmar United press International Ellen Knobbe used to make a mad dash to the Kitchen after stocking up on fatten ing goodies she could nibble while watching Tele vision until dinner now when the 14yearold goes into the Kitchen after school she reaches for an or better she skips her afternoon snack All together and Heads for the Tennis Matt of new never liked the Way he at 5 feet tall and 187 Matt was in his words everybody teased said who is a much happier boy now that he has dropped 27 pounds in 10 i  do a lot of things my friends i really didst like myself very Ellen and Matt Are just two of 15 children who have completed the first 10week body shop program offered by Cardinal Glennon childrens Hospital in the which was developed by methodist hos Pital in is designed to help overweight Chil Dren 8 to 18 learn weight control and avoid fat Dies May be dangerous to growth and its Cost is its a behaviour modification said Mickey the programs the Best thing that comes out of the program is that the children leave knowing being overweight is problem before it was everybody else said it was the Parent that brought the food into the or the Parent that nagged at who is a registered said the body shop teaches children they must take control of their weight beside the a healthily aspects of being she fat children Lack self often have emotional problems and do poorly in Lon term effects from being overweight include High blood pressure and heart Fellows said on third of overweight people suffer from High blood t body for overweight children the which is offered in 22 other is divided into three the children attending the body shop also Are by into three parents Are encouraged to attend the weekly although they Are not allowed to attend the same discussion group As their own Chil in one a dietician teaches the kids to be conscious of what they Are for at one session the children Learned that even though they Are on a they can still go out to fast food restaurants with their i know if i do go to i have to compensate for what Ive eaten at other said at fast food restaurants you eat a lot of so at my next meal i know Ive got to Lay off the in the second time out for a psychologist counsels the children on the various problems an overweight child will one the children Learned what types of clothing makes a person look finally there is the physical fitness element of the therapist Terry Kunkel lectures about the various parts of the body and what exercises Are most Fellows said the program gives the children the Chance to talk to other fat kids about their Mutual prob the kids Are helping each other More than we help Fellows they share All their feelings from How it feels like to be All the Way to getting caught eating something you parents of the children also play an Active role in the Fellows said Many of the parents attending the classes have lost As much or More weight than their she also said the class offers advice to parents on How they can encourage their overweight child to shed those extra ellens said before she and her daughter began attending the body the family drank regular she buys diet and in Stead of letting the family help themselves to portions at Knobbe fills each plate in the the ones that can afford to go Back for seconds she but it makes it easier for who knows she Doest need a second Fellows emphasized that the program is not a one time but teaches a lifelong philosophy of the children Are asked to come Back four times a year for an open a photo video game adds incentive to another Way to lose weight it operates Only if the Bike is peddled fast enough to generate 14 the stars and stripes july the stars and stripes Page 15