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For a printable
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| Vol. 25: This Issue |
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Thanks to Steve Collins, president and
CEO of Martin|Williams and chair of the
National Institute on Media and the Family
Board of Directors, the National Institute
on Media and the Family’s first public
service announcement (PSA) is being broadcast
nationwide. The 30-second spot encourages
parents to “Watch What their Kids Watch.”
The public service announcement has been
distributed to the top 20 media markets
in the country. In each market, six network
affiliates have received the PSA (ABC, NBC,
CBS, Fox, WB, and UPN).
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The new
MediaWise PSA features a young boy
explaining the violent actions he
learned playing a video game.
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The National Institute on
Media and the Family’s print ad campaign
calling attention to the despicable glorification
of violence toward police officers in some
video games recently appeared in The
Onion. Other print ad campaigns are
in the works.
If the public service announcement is not
currently showing in your area, please contact
your local television station and urge them
to air it. If the station does not have
the public service announcement, please
let us know and we will promptly provide
them with a copy. If you have seen the public
service announcement, we would also like
to hear your thoughts. Please contact us
(info@mediafamily.org), telling us when
and where it appeared, and what you thought
about it. |
| You can view the public service
announcement on the Web at http://www.mediafamily.org/mediawise/psa.shtml |
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Want to be involved?
Joing the MediaWise Network!
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The National Institute on Media and the
Family recently launched the MediaWise Network
– a grassroots effort for those concerned
citizens asking what they can do to help
make healthy media choices a priority for
children.
Members of the MediaWise Network will receive
innovative tools and resources so they can
learn how to take action and bring the MediaWise
message of “Watch What Your Kids Watch”
to their communities.
Current members, please contact us at mwnetwork@mediafamily.org
with updates and stories, or to tell us
about your progress, so we can feature your
success stories in our newsletter and on
our Web site. |
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Demonstration
Project Focuses on Early Childhood
In 2003, the National Institute on Media and
the Family received funding from the Cargill
Foundation to conduct a MediaWise training and
outcomes study with La Creche Early Learning
Centers and the Washburn Child Guidance Center.
The training focused on the impact of media
on children’s behavior and learning. The
results of the study showed that when parents
and caregivers are educated about the power
of media and its positive and negative impacts,
they are empowered to make positive changes
at home regarding their children’s media
use.
 With
additional assistance from the Cargill Foundation,
the National Institute on Media and the Family
is expanding this project to reach more parents
of preschool aged children. The expanded project
will provide MediaWise training on developing
healthy media habits and show participants how
media can impact brain development, attentiveness,
and school readiness.
This project will involve family educators,
preschool teachers, social workers, paraprofessionals,
child care and day care workers, and other professionals
who work with families and children. The National
Institute on Media and the Family is enthusiastic
about the number and diversity of organizations
that have signed up to participate in the project,
including supportive housing developments, women’s
shelters, social services agencies, and learning
centers.
The National Institute on Media and the Family
is very excited about the potential of this
demonstration project serving as a national
model, and is grateful to the Cargill Foundation
for its continued support. |
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Media Myths with Douglas Gentile,
Ph.D.
Media Myth #3: The effects of media violence
are severe.
The Truth: Media violence has subtle, but
predictable, effects on everyone.
The Evidence: Because most of the school shooters
have been highly involved in violent media, many people
assume two ideas: That media violence consumption has
extreme effects, and that they themselves must not be
affected by media violence because they have never done
anything so violent. Both of these ideas are incorrect.
Regarding the latter, any time you laugh, cry, get scared
or excited at a movie or video game, you have just been
affected. In fact, we seek being affected by media -
if we're not affected, we call them "boring."
Regarding severity, we should not expect to see the
effect at the extremes. We should be looking for more
socially "acceptable" forms of aggression.
For example, in 1998 (a year with many school shootings),
there were 35 deaths in schools. As horrifying as that
number is, it is only the tip of the iceberg. That same
year, there were 257,000 serious injuries in schools,
990,500 thefts or larcenies, 1,562,300 reported fights,
and 18,000,000 incidents of bullying! This is exactly
where we would expect to see the effect - media violence
creates a culture of disrespect. Most children who consume
a lot of media violence will not pick up a gun, but
they become more disrespectful, more rude and insulting
and more likely to push or shove. |
MediaWise
Community Spotlight:
Allen County, Indiana
The National Institute on Media and the Family is
pleased to spotlight Allen County, Indiana, as a showcase
community for what it means to become MediaWise. A
MediaWise community builds a three-year partnership
with the National Institute on Media and the Family
to sponsor and develop MediaWise public education
strategies to help families make wiser media choices
for their children. MediaWise communities bring together,
among others, school districts, human services agencies,
youth organizations, community action groups, and
leaders of faith. The MediaWise community initially
identifies its top priorities and these goals are
measured with assistance and guidance from the National
Institute on Media and the Family.
 After
hearing Dr. Walsh in 2002, Allen County officials
and residents wanted to learn more about how to shield
children from the negative consequences of media,
while enhancing the positive aspects. With Institute
support, Allen County identified goals and subsequently
moved to become a MediaWise community by participating
in training workshops. Entering into Phase II of its
MediaWise initiative, Allen County is now prepared
to develop strategies for incorporating MediaWise
information and tools across its agencies. According
to an Allen County leader, all of the community partners
are very excited about the Media- Wise initiative,
and believe this effort will have a lasting positive
impact on youth in Allen County.
The National Institute on Media and the Family commends
Allen County for its work to be a Media- Wise community.
Allen County should serve as a model for other communities
across the country. To learn more about how your community
can become MediaWise, please contact the National
Institute on Media and the Family at info@mediafamily.org.
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Concerned about how media violence and disrespect affects
your family?
What:
Support the important work of the National Institute
on Media and the Family.
Why: Kids
need your help. The Institute is a nonprofit organization.
Your gift helps us help parents and educators help children.
How: Send
your tax-deductable gift to:
National Institute
on Media and the Family
Riverside Professional Building
606 24th Ave. South, Suite 606
Minneapolis, MN 55454-1438
Who: YOU
can make a difference for our children.
Also:
How you
can help
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