CBS addresses 'Kid Nation' controversies
REALITY TV
On Tuesday, the brewing controversy over CBS' "Kid Nation," the forthcoming reality television series that placed 40 children, ages 8 to 15, in the New Mexico desert to build a society without contact with their parents for 40 days, became even more complicated.
There are two central issues: whether CBS went around child labor laws and whether the children's safety was at risk during the taping of the show.
Janis Miles, the mother of a 12-year-old girl who was burned in the face while cooking, filed a complaint in June in Georgia, where she lives. She has asked for an investigation into "abusive acts to minors and possible violations of child labor laws." Her complaint was forwarded to Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano, who on July 20 posted an item on his department blog revealing Miles' claims and stating he had found no criminal wrongdoing related to the production.
CBS issued a statement to The Times on Tuesday, in part to dispute the "course of action being taken by one parent in distorting the true picture of the 'Kid Nation' experience." The creator of the show, Tom Forman, and a CBS lawyer also defended the production.
"These kids were in good hands and under good care with procedures and safety structures that arguably rival or surpass any school or camp in the country," the CBS statement read.
The network denied The Times' request to interview Miles. When reached by telephone, Miles said she could not speak without the consent of CBS. Miles has not filed a lawsuit against CBS or Forman's production company, Good Time TV. In an interview, Forman said he is unaware of any other disgruntled parents.
But CBS and the producers are also contending with the public statements of New Mexico state officials, who claim the producers and the network sidestepped child-welfare and labor laws.
At issue is whether Good Time TV Inc. was required to apply for work permits for the children or special waivers that exempted them. State officials say they were required to, but CBS and Forman contend that they did not have to because the children were not employees.
"The cameras are following people through an experience but those people are not working in the same way that one normally thinks of working a job," said Jonathan Anschell, executive vice president and general counsel for CBS Corp.
The children did receive $5,000 stipends, and they competed for $20,000 gold stars in each episode.
