Originally published August 15, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified August 15, 2007 at 2:07 AM
Disney: UW news release "grossly unfair"
The Walt Disney Co. isn't happy about a recent University of Washington news release summing up a study on baby videos and language development...
Seattle Times staff reporter
The Walt Disney Co. isn't happy about a recent University of Washington news release summing up a study on baby videos and language development, and its chief executive is demanding a retraction.
In a letter dated Monday, Robert Iger, Disney's president and chief executive officer, wrote to UW President Mark Emmert expressing dissatisfaction with a university news release sent last week to news media with the title "Baby DVDs, videos may hinder, not help, infants' language development."
The release, intended to summarize the findings of a study conducted by researchers from the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute, prompted widespread news coverage on the subject.
But Iger said the news release "blatantly misrepresented what the study was about," and was "grossly unfair, extremely damaging, and, to be blunt, just plain wrong in every conceivable sense."
The news release stated "parents who want to give their infants a boost in learning language probably should limit the amount of time they expose their children to DVDs and videos such as 'Baby Einstein' and 'Brainy Baby.' "
It stated that rather than helping babies, watching such videos often may slow down vocabulary acquisition for some infants.
Baby Einstein is a subsidiary of Disney.
"For the University to issue a press release making reckless charges warning parents to avoid using Baby Einstein products ... is completely irresponsible," Iger said in his letter.
Iger asserted that parents in the study were asked to identify broad categories, such as "Baby DVDs/Videos," not necessarily a particular brand like "Baby Einstein."
The study, titled "Associations Between Media Viewing and Language Development in Children Under Age 2 Years," was published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Iger asked the university to retract the news release and pull it from the Web site.
Emmert said he spoke to Iger on the phone Monday, and Iger requested that the university find out if the news release was consistent with the findings of the study.
![]()
"I told them I had, in fact, asked for that to be done," Emmert said.
Emmert said he would be surprised if he finds there was not "appropriate accord" between the news release and the original study.
"I have great confidence in our media staff," he said.
Robert Roseth, director of news and information at the UW, said the news release was approved by the study author before it was issued to the news media.
Christina Siderius: csiderius@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Arson suspect has long history of setting fires
Band of advocates, activists now McGinn's likely insiders
Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
Kirkland annex 'yes' could be slipping away
Licata looks at boosting traffic-ticket revenue

Opening day at Crystal Mountain
Skiers crowded the slopes at Crystal Mountain for one of the resort's earliest openings.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
- Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
- Razor found in muffin an accident, 'mortified' baker says
- Suspect's family shaken by slaying of police officer
- Mountlake Terrace woman reports razor in muffin
- Man says he will protest city's gun ban by carrying gun into community center
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
632 - Seattle man to pack a pistol into community center to protest mayor's ban
263 - GOP clueless as families struggle with health care
182 - Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
178 - KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
143 - Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
139 - Wright State game thread
97 - Rang says Locker not ready for NFL
85 - Wilson "really, really excited to be back in Seattle"
78 - Licata looks at boosting traffic-ticket revenue
76
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- An 802.11n upgrade could make a big difference
- Washington in race for federal education funds
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Goodwill's Glitter Sale is Nov. 14-15





