_____LEADS
**1. ENTERTAINMENT: JOHNNY CARSON IS AN AMERICAN INSTITUTION. HORACE NEWCOMB of the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA is the director of the George Foster Peabody Awards. Johnny Carson won a Personal Peabody Award in 1985 upon embarking on his 25th year at the helm of "The Tonight Show": "Johnny Carson has become an American institution, a household word, the most widely quoted American, and even venerable, if you like to use that word. With this recognition goes the hope that we might repeat the same honor when celebrating his 50th anniversary."
**2. ENTERTAINMENT: LOWER MANHATTAN NEEDS FUNDING FOR VISUAL, PERFORMANCE ARTS. TOM HEALY, president of the LOWER MANHATTAN CULTURAL COUNCIL: "In the wake of Sept. 11, New York City, particularly in the downtown area around Ground Zero, was once among the cultural centers of the city, but much of the arts and culture of the area had been wiped out. Although it is exciting to see the new buildings starting to rise post-Sept. 11, downtown is rebuilding itself with the absence of cultural flare that put it on the map in the first place. Rather than debate for months and years about how money should be spent, it's vital that programming and funding for visual arts, performance arts, residency programs and artist grants is provided so that no time is wasted incorporating art and culture into the revitalization of downtown."
**3. ENTERTAINMENT: ONLINE TELEVISION HAS LIMITLESS CAPABILITIES. DREW MASSEY, CEO of MANIATV, an Internet television station launched in Sept. 2004: "Online television has been on the radar since the dot-com boom, but many companies have failed at this brilliant idea because they aren't in tune with what youth want. In October of 1999, a time when others were attempting to break into the Internet television era, less than 10 percent of homes in America were using broadband. Today, over 53 percent of homes in America are equipped with high-speed Internet, allowing viewers to stream seamless video from their homes. The key to succeeding in this space is to understand Generation Y, who live and breathe the Internet. They text message during class and use technology to interact with their peers at any opportunity they can. Now, they also watch TV and steer programming on their favorite network through chat rooms and other interactive capabilities impossible on conventional television -- and it's all free."
**4. ENTERTAINMENT: GENDER AGE DIFFERENCES EXPECTED AMONG OSCAR NOMINEES. ANNE LINCOLN, postdoctoral student of sociology at RICE UNIVERSITY: "Research has found significant age differences between male and female Academy Award nominees and winners. However, this discrepancy may result from gender differences in actors' ages when they first begin their acting careers." Research was published in the October 2004 Psychological Reports.
**5. MEDIA: LOCAL TELEVISION NEWS MAY BE FOUND AT ODD TIMES OF THE DAY. ROBERT PAPPER, professor of telecommunications at BALL STATE UNIVERSITY: "At one time, television viewers could find their local news broadcast only at 6 and 11 p.m., but many newscasts are now broadcast at various hours of the day. Viewers now want their news delivered at hours that are convenient for them. Because people have more varied work schedules than in the past, broadcasting news at odd times may make sense."
**6. TRAVEL: TIPS FOR BOOKING AIR TRAVEL DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. JEFFREY MILLER, travel industry attorney for the MILLER TRAVEL GROUP INC. and consultant for LIPSHULTZ AND MILLER P.A., has more than 25 years experience in consumer travel issues and is available to discuss what travelers should consider when booking flights during precarious winter weather: "January's been a tough month for air travelers, especially in the Northeast U.S. There are certain steps passengers can take to help minimize weather-related inconveniences. For example, consumers should book non-stop flights rather than those with a connection because it minimizes the possibility of substantial delays or travel interruptions."
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