<dcljr@stat.tamu.edu>.
They may not be able to vote, but children will be affected as much as anyone else by the presidential election.
News outlets aimed at kids will be working during the year to frame the campaign in ways that will keep their young viewers interested and involved in the political process.
In fact, while some adults appear able to remain oblivious to the election year noise, most youngsters can't.
``In the last election we found kids weren't able to avoid it. It's the rare school that doesn't bring the election into the classroom,'' said Linda Ellerbee, whose Lucky Duck Productions produces ``Nick News,'' which appears on Nickelodeon and is syndicated to television stations.
Unlike traditional network coverage, ``Nick News'' doesn't make kids sit through scenes of candidates trudging through the snows of New Hampshire.
``I think that's all pretty silly for grown-ups to have to watch,'' said Ms. Ellerbee, calling ``Nick News'' ``one of the few places safe from those guys when you're 10 years old. ''
Instead, ``Nick News'' ``will talk about the process and the issues,'' she said.
For example, a story on jobs and economic insecurity is in the works. Though it sounds like a complicated subject, Ms. Ellerbee is confident it can be explained to anyone over the age of 7.
A story on the issue of television content regulation, particularly as it applies to kids, is also being produced, she said.
Nickelodeon is calling its election coverage ``Kids Pick the President,'' an effort that includes having kids cast phone-in votes for the candidates of their choice.
The winner of the kids vote will be revealed before the grown-up election. In previous elections, kids and grown-ups have picked the same candidates.
The shows are also not just for kids.
``We know our shows are watched by the whole family and can be a starting point for discussion,'' said Ms. Ellerbee, adding with amusement that many adults are almost ashamed to admit it.
``They tell me, 'I liked that kids news show,' as if it made them a dummy to watch a kids news show.''
At Channel One, which is received via satellite by 12,000 high schools and middle schools, they know they have to be careful to not make political coverage boring.
Too much politics can make viewers tune out. And just reading the results from a primary doesn't cut it, said Channel One executive producer Jim Morris.
``The only way you're going to make it meaningful is to be there,'' he said.
The election pieces that have been popular on the channel have been longer ones, in which a Channel One reporter -- usually a high school student -- follows a candidate such as Pat Buchanan or Steve Forbes.
``We did 7 1/2 minutes on the flat tax,'' Mr. Morris said. ``And the emphasis was on 'what does that mean to me.'''
Mr. Morris said Channel One plans to cover the conventions and hopes to set up interviews with the candidates.
He thinks students would be very interested in hearing President Clinton explain his support for school uniforms.
CNN Newsroom, part of Cable in the Classroom and used in 30,000 schools nationwide, is also doing a series of stories geared to the election.
Some are ``explainer'' stories, describing the primaries, the conventions, the duties of the president and the electoral college.
Features are also planned on the first ladies and on a comparison to the Truman campaign in 1948.
While helping to keep kids and teachers abreast of the campaign, CNN Newsroom also wants to ``create some excitement about the democratic process and create some dialog inside those classrooms about why they should want to participate when they get a chance,'' said Jay Suber, CNN Newsroom senior vice president and executive producer.
CNN Newsroom airs on CNN at 4:30 a.m. so it can be taped by teachers and used during school.
CNN has also licensed all of its regular campaign coverage for use in classrooms.