MEDIA RELEASE
Parents angered by media coverage of
war and its impact on their children

Since the outbreak of war in Iraq, the Young Media Australia (YMA) Helpline has received numerous calls from parents, educators and other caregivers expressing outrage at the amount and timing of media coverage of the war, saying that it is having a damaging effect on children in their care.

Barbara Biggins, OAM, Hon. Executive Director of the Australian Council for Children and the Media, trading as Young Media Australia (YMA), today supported a call by the Hon. Larry Anthony, MP, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs who has written to news directors asking them to show restraint in what is being telecast, particularly at times that children are likely to be watching television.

Ms Jane Roberts, YMA’s media spokesperson on children and parenting issues stated: “It makes the task of parents even more difficult when such intense coverage is shown on all channels at times when children are normally watching TV. It is not practical to expect parents to be in the room with their children constantly and there have been very few alternative programs for children over the last few days.”

Young Media Australia believes there are six key questions that parents and caregivers can ask themselves to help them care for their children at this time.

1. How old are the children in my care? Respond according to their level of development.
2. What media are they seeing or hearing? Minimise and rationalise.
3. How are my children feeling? Listen and acknowledge.
4. How am I communicating with them? Communicate openly and honestly.
5. How can I reassure them? Give both physical and logical reassurance.
6. How can I make them feel safe? Routines, family togetherness and monitoring your own reactions.

For more detailed responses to these questions and some practical tips in applying them, parents are reminded that the national freecall Young Media Australia Helpline (1800 700 357) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

YMA is Australia’s only national advocacy organisation representing the interests of children and young people in relation to print, electronic and screen-based media, and provides a valuable resource for legislators, regulators and the media.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please call
Barbara Biggins on (08) 8376 2111 or (08) 8234 9396 or
Jane Roberts on 0410 509 685.