There is good news in the fight against media violence. The Federal Trade Commission recently announced that it has expanded its consumer complaint handling system to categorize and track complaints about media violence, including complaints about the advertising, marketing, and sale of violent movies, electronic games (including video games), and music.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the expanded complaint handling system will track complaints about media violence, including: complaints about ads for violent entertainment products airing or appearing in media inappropriate for children; ads containing an incorrect rating for violent content, or no rating at all; cross-marketing of violent entertainment products to children; and the sale or rental of violent entertainment products to children.

The Federal Trade Commission asks that consumers who wish to file complaints use the Commission's online complaint form, available at http://www.ftc.gov , or call toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). With respect to the content of television programming, consumers should direct their complaints to the Federal Communications Commission at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html.

Dr. David Walsh, president and founder of the National Institute on Media and the Family, participated in the Federal Trade Commission's fall workshop and served on three panels. The panels addressed, among other items, the degree to which the rating and labeling systems are used by the industry and are helpful to parents; the findings of a "mystery shopper" survey (measuring the extent to which retailers prevent children from purchasing products rated or labeled by industry self-regulation as inappropriate for children); and an update on research completed on the effects of violent entertainment media on children.