Channel One's Inbox

Updated: March 01, 2011

Check out some of the feedback we've received from viewers, educators and parents. Would you like to send us a few thoughts? We'd love to hear from you. Just click here to send an e-mail.

Regarding Channel One's healthy living and fitness initiative, One Step to a Better Me:

Dear Channel One:
I wanted to let you know that today's show [Sept. 29] has generated some talk among the teachers here. They're talking favorably about the "breakfast show"-- your tips on easy ways to plan breakfasts at home and on-the-go, along with the package that followed. We've discovered that most of us teachers usually don't eat breakfast (yours truly included). Even a couple of Channel One's traditional faculty critics were making positive comments about today's show.

I know you folks have taken a lot of heat over the years about promoting non-nutritional products in advertising (and I know that has changed), but I think today's show went a long way toward destroying that urban legend. After viewing today's tape, it'd be tough for anyone to say you're promoting unhealthy products or lifestyles. It'd be a great segment to archive and send to schools who are considering adopting (or dropping) Channel One's services.

More than anything else, I just wanted to let you know that the kids and teachers were paying attention today, and that your program generated more-than-usual discussion. I appreciate your work! What you do for our kids makes a difference, even if they don't often admit it. It matters.
- Jim E., Broadcast teacher, Iowa

Regarding Channel One News' Peabody Award-winning series, The Suffering of Sudan:

Dear Channel One,
After seeing your first three-day story about Sudan, my 8th graders decided to sacrifice pop/candy/junk food and give the money to help the kids in Sudan. We now have over $800! Thank you for keeping us informed about the tragic suffering and helping us know how we can help.
-Mrs. F., a junior high school teacher in Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear Channel One,
The week you aired the special about Sudan, my students sprang into action. They wanted to know what they could do. This week we started to collect money to send to Doctors Without Borders and CARE in Sudan. We are giving students who donate white and sliver ribbons to wear. They are really excited about helping at a global level. This is every social studies teacher's dream.
-Mrs. B., a middle school teacher in Michigan

Dear Channel One,
A couple weeks ago, my students brought in over $600 to purchase materials for teachers of the Dinka tribe in southern Sudan. Our donations were able to cover the cost of 14 teacher-training materials. One of the things that touched me about the generosity of the students was that there was no reward or prize offered for reaching any particular goal. They gave purely from the heart because this is an issue that concerns them. We were thrilled that while we were doing our own presentation on Sudan, Channel One was simultaneously running its series on the Suffering of Sudan. What a wonderful way to make our subject even more relevant!
-Ms. U., 7th grade world geography teacher in Tennessee

Dear Channel One,
I think its great that you guys did a show on genocide because a lot of people have no idea what's going on. Our classroom has written letters to the media and congress hoping to get more attention to this problem. We are all really in to it and have thought that we might want to start a fundraiser.
-Karen B., 13

Dear Channel One,
I loved your special report on the crisis in Sudan. I am currently working on organizing a fundraiser though the Amnesty International club at school, with the aid of materials from both amnesty and UNHCR. We also created a pettition to send more aid to Sudan so supplies can get to the refugees. Too many times has the world sat back while another country was suffering, and we cannot allow this to happen again. So thank you for putting the time into getting the word out, it really does help in the end.
-Madeline H.

Dear Channel One,
Recently you did a story on the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Our school was very happy to see that piece, as we have been devoting a large amount of time to study to genocide. We passed out green ribbons to wear in remembrance of the victims and buttons that say "Remember" and "Never Again." The students at our school now wear the ribbons and buttons and together we have pledged to do all that we can to ensure that genocide is ended. Thank you for your help in making American teenagers cognizant of this issue.
-Mackie H., senior, North Carolina

Dear Channel One,
We watch Channel One at school and our hearts were broken when we saw the dreadful things that happen in refugee camps. We started to think of ways we could get involved, so we turned our thoughts into action. We sent fliers to the people in our church, the people in our school and the people in our neighborhood, and we have been continuing with this program since we saw "The Suffering in Sudan." Once we get enough we are going to send them to Sudan. We feel good about helping others!
-Dena and Kristin, students

Regarding Channel One's coverage of the anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination, and ChannelOne.com's interactive, "Who Really Killed JFK?"

Dear Channel One,
I am typing this email for my class. After viewing Channel One today the students expressed interest in who really assassinated JFK. Realizing the 'teachable moment,' I postponed the prepared lesson and logged onto ChannelOne.com. Through our integrated classroom system all of the students were able to view the five places, key people and heard reasons for each group's motives. I did encourage students to go home tonight and ask their parents where they were and what they were doing when Kennedy was assassinated. Right away one of my students brought up the connection between his parents hearing of JFK being hit with a bullet to him knowing exactly where he was when he first heard of the twin towers being hit by a plane. In conclusion, thanks for the teachable moment!
-Mrs. G., teacher

Dear Channel One,
First of all I want to thank you and congratulate you for creating activities such as "Who Really Killed JFK?" My dream has always been to be a crime scene investigator. I'm sure that Oswald couldn't have acted alone; it's just improbable. I really think that the CIA wanted him out because he was interfering with their priorities. Thanks for taking the time to read my conclusion.
- V.S., junior