Leonore Annenberg 1918-2009

A Publication of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania MAY 2009 Volume 2, Number 2 On the RECORD Leonore Annenberg 1918-2009 The Annenberg Public Policy Center IN THIS ISSUE From the mourns the loss of the gracious woman who, with her husband, defined our mis- From the Director 2 sion in 1993 and inspired our work in the Director years that followed. Student Voices, Justice Leonore Annenberg Tribute Learning, FactCheck.org, the National An- 3 nenberg Election Survey, the APPC Ado- Building Blocks for Health 4 lescent Communication Institute and the Policy APPC Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics are among the byproducts of the Campaign ‘08 from the Inside 7 Annenbergs’ commitment to improving the well-being of the nation and its children. Sandra Day O’Connor on 10 This summer, as we install the portraits Democracy of Walter and Lee Annenberg in our el- egant new building and place the Annen- Annenberg Scholars Update 11 Photo: Kyle Cassidy berg motto “citizenship is a person’s most important calling” in its agora, we will Bringing Civics to Life 11 remember their words of encouragement with fondness and rededicate ourselves to meeting the high expectations they had Established in 1993, the Annenberg for our work at the policy center that bears Public Policy Center of the University of their name. Pennsylvania conducts and disseminates research, hosts lectures and conferences, and convenes roundtable discussions that highlight important questions about the Photo: Kyle Cassidy intersection of media, communication and public policy. The Policy Center, which has offices in Philadelphia and Washington D.C., conducts ongoing research in the areas of political communication, information and society, media and the developing child, health communication and adolescent risk. Its research helps to bring difficult problems into focus. ON THE RECORD Susan Q. Stranahan Editor-in-Chief Karen Riley Leonore Annenberg (right) at the September 2002 announcement of a $100 million Editor special operating trust established for the Annenberg School for Communication and the Annenberg Public Policy Center. Jennifer McCleary Graphic Designer Gary Gehman Web Director Front Cover Photo: Leonore Annenberg Annenberg Public Policy Center Photo Credit: Alan Kolc 3535 Market St., Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19104 Back Cover: The expertise of scholars at the Annenberg Public Policy Center Phone: (215) 898-9400 is often sought out by media in the U.S. as well as around the globe. Visit the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s website: www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org May 009 • ON THE RECORD www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org Leonore Annenberg: Remembered with Gratitude and Affection When one thinks of Leonore An- nenberg, what comes immediately to mind is the presence of dignity, of refinement, taste, elegance, in- tegrity and high standards – in short, the presence of a very classy person with a deep sense of civic commitment and an unparalleled Barbara and I were saddened to hear social conscience. One thinks, as of the death of our dear friend Lee well, of her great generosity and her Annenberg. We send our most sin- A Distinguished Daughter of Penn- extraordinary kindness. cere condolences to her family. She sylvania, Lee Annenberg brought to and her late husband, Walter, exem- her role as a trustee the same style Mrs. Annenberg’s life wove togeth- plified service to others and were and sensitivity that benefited our er the themes of art and education, two of God’s very special people. country when she was Chief of Pro- culture and public service, knitting She will be sorely missed. tocol of the United States. Her ap- together a tapestry of honor, ser- preciation and support of excellence vice and vision that put her nation Former President in education, as in the arts, inspired and many others around the world George H. W. Bush Penn to strive toward ever greater deeply in her debt. It was a privi- distinction. As individuals, we will lege to have this remarkable wom- miss her grace, determination and an of grace, vision, passion and Lee Annenberg’s death is a huge most important, her friendship. As compassion as my friend. We will loss for all of us. She was a dear an institution, Penn will miss her all feel her loss for a very long time and longtime friend who provided profound dedication to education to come. tremendous personal support in the and citizenship, and her willingness Vartan Gregorian many years of Ronnie’s illness and to commit her resources to support President, Carnegie Corporation since his death. She served as Ron- those ideals. nie’s Chief of Protocol during our first few years in Washington and Lee and her late husband, Ambas- Lee Annenberg was an extraordi- we spent many wonderful evenings sador Walter Annenberg, were nary person who lived every day with Lee and her husband, Walter. dedicated benefactors whose ex- with elegance, generosity and a traordinary financial contributions dedication to improving the quality Lee and Walter Annenberg were transformed Penn. The impact of of life of her fellow man. Her death unparalleled in their philanthropic their generosity is beyond mea- is a profound loss to all of us who giving that spanned everything sure. Lee and Walter Annenberg’s were fortunate enough to know her. from politics to the arts. They left legacy will continue at Penn in the No two people have been more per- an indelible print on education in many wonderful programs they es- sonally committed to education, the United States and there are mil- tablished and in all the individuals public service and philanthropy lions of young people that have or whose lives they touched. than Lee and Walter Annenberg. will benefit from their extraordinary generosity. Amy Gutmann U.S. Rep. David Dreier President, Washington, D.C. Mrs. Ronald Reagan University of Pennsylvania www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org ON THE RECORD • May 009 Delivering the Evidence to Guide Health Policy The Obama administration has made its For the scholars at the Annenberg Public eo games or surf the Internet may become policies and its priorities clear: Health Policy Center, these are familiar topics. For too tired to exercise or may snack more for care and education have moved to the top politicians and policymakers in Washing- the energy boost. Or, there may be some of the national agenda as programs “abso- ton, they are issues ripe for review. other unexplored mechanism researchers lutely critical to the nation’s future,” in the have yet to discover. president’s words. Innovation and reform fff – new approaches to address long-standing Not all kids are equally at risk. For those problems – will be given a fast track and Amy Jordan has long studied the impact who are genetically predisposed to being increased federal funding. of media on children, and has been at the overweight, who have limited opportuni- forefront of national research into media ties or incentives to exercise, or who don’t But before additional billions are poured usage and childhood obesity. (Last year have healthy food options, “media may be into these initiatives, existing programs she served as special editor of an issue of the tipping point,” Jordan says. She has and new proposals will be subjected to a The Annals of the American Academy of proposed research on the bedtime habits critical standard: Evidence that they work. Political and Social Science devoted to of 4- to 5-year-olds. Although childhood overweight and obesity in children.) obesity has leveled off in other age groups, “This is an administration that wants evi- it has not in these youngsters. “This is an dence before, instead of after it makes Recently, Jordan became interested in mea- age where we can still intervene,” she ex- policy,” said Amy Jordan, director of the suring how children’s bedtime routines af- plained. Media and the Developing Child area of fect obesity. “Kids who don’t sleep enough the Annenberg Public Policy Center. As a are at greater risk for being overweight,” That intervention may be difficult – for result, she believes, decision-making will she said. The reason is not clear. Kids who kids and parents. In all probability, any so- be grounded in facts and responsive to watch TV late into the night, who play vid- lution will involve parents and lifestyles. emerging scholarship. Photo: John Vettese The evidence will come from data com- piled by researchers, including those at the Annenberg Public Policy Center whose work involves a number of the health policy issues now being discussed in Washing- ton. Among the questions are these: What factors are triggering the surge in childhood obesity and what behavioral changes could reduce the problem? What strategies can protect children from sexual content in the media but not run afoul of the First Amendment? What works – and what doesn’t – to convince kids to avoid cigarettes or practice safe sex? How best to provide adolescents with accessible information about sex without also leaving Research by Amy Jordan (left) and Amy Bleakley focuses on issues as diverse as them open to exploitation online? obesity in young children and “sexting” by adolescents. May 009 • ON THE RECORD www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org “You can’t change kids’ media behaviors content on individual handheld devices, nology, how to effectively deliver it to an without changing the whole family envi- such as cell phones, makes adult oversight age-appropriate audience? ronment.” difficult, if not impossible. Although there are many unanswered “For too long, we’ve been relying on the Sexting represents the latest manifestation questions, Bleakley is sure of one thing: To electronic storyteller,” concedes Jordan. of kids being exposed to sexual informa- get a better understanding of kids’ attitudes Even so, all technology isn’t necessarily tion, explains Amy Bleakley, a research toward sex, researchers’ sights need to be bad and thus a simple “pull the plug” strat- scientist in the Annenberg Public Policy lowered to the 12- to 14-year age group.

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