October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
High-tech
classrooms don't improve student achievement
The latest report from US group Alliance for Childhood
challenges the assertion that all teachers and children,
from preschool up, should use computers in the classroom
to develop technology literacy. The report's
authors, comprising 17 professionals in the fields
of child psychiatry, education, and child development,
say that the "High-tech, screen-centred life style
of today's children - at home and at school - is a
health hazard, and the polar opposite of the education
they need to take part in making ethical choices in
a high-tech democracy.
New Australian study shows
up chat room dangers
As reported by Jennifer Foreshew 'Study shows up
chat room dangers' in The Australian 26
October 2004 p. 32, Dr.R.Mubarak Ali, Flinders University,
Adelaide has conducted a survey of 144 Adelaide students
aged 13-17 years. The research provides an insight
into teenagers' chat room experiences and finds that
almost 60% of respondents had no parental attention
or guidance when using internet chat rooms.
BTN is coming back! - YMA
congratulates the ABC
YMA is delighted with the news that children's news
TV service Behind The News is to return next
year. The longrunning program was axed last year by
the ABC "due to budget cuts". At the time, YMA and
many others deplored the ABC's decision to cease production
on this highly valued program, that gave children a
context for the news not available anywhere else.
YMA movie reviews
now in The Adelaide Advertiser
As a community service to South Australian parents
and caregivers. The Adelaide Advertiser is printing
short versions of YMA's latest movie reviews in the
Movies section of the Saturday edition of The Advertiser,
commencing Saturday 25 September 2004.
YMA cautions parents
about new PG zones on television
Two months after the release of the new Code
of Practice for commercial television stations,
the three commercial networks (Seven, Nine & Ten)
all screened PG programmes during the day (after
10am) over the weekend of September 3–4, and
are to commence some PG week-night programming at
the now earlier time of 7pm in the coming weeks.
For more information on the codes see the Codes,
Classifications and Complaints section of our
web site.
August 2004
Little Athletics
sponsorship may be jumping the gun
The Sun-Herald has reported that fast food corporation
McDonald’s have sponsored Little Athletics NSW
in a deal which has presented the largest contribution
the organisation have seen in its history. Sceptical
of the partnership, health groups such as Nutrition
Australia have condemned McDonald’s targeting
of a vulnerable youthful market who may be led to believe
the products are a more attractive dietary options.
McDonald’s association with sports in this way
allows them the ability to promote them in their restaurants
on placemats and other promotions.
“The LAANSW is pleased to be able to enter
its second year of partnership with McDONALD’S.
In return for their wonderful support, the McDONALD’S
logo, commencing from this season, will be proudly
displayed on individual registration numbers. McDONALD’S
have also provided a large quantity of “Most
Improved Awards” for use by all NSW Little
Athletics Centres. In addition to this scheme and
financial assistance, McDONALD’S have utilised
their extensive network to promote the sport of
Little Athletics, with the aim of encouraging more
young people to become active and keep fit. McDONALD’S
have exclusive rights within Little Athletics in
NSW, in the quick service restaurant category.” Source: Little
Athletics NSW sponsors page.
Speaking with the Sun-Herald, Kerry O’Keefe,
CEO of Little Athletics NSW, hopes to educate all children
eating in McDonald’s restaurants about fitness.
She addresses the seeming paradox of a fast food chain
sponsoring athletic competition, "the fact that
McDonald's has been really trying to move into the
healthy food area was a factor in us agreeing to form
a partnership with them.” There is an obvious
benefit to many organisations that may be struggling
for much-needed funds and membership, whereas the advantages
for McDonald’s — apart from aligning themselves
even further to the public with the "get fit and
healthy" message — aren’t so clear.
Is this a genuine case of altruism or should we be
questioning what is really on the fast food giant's
agenda?
News coverage:
Review of rating
markings for DVDs & videos, movies, and electronic
games
Recent changes to the Australian classification system
have prompted the Office
of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) to
announce the “Review
of Determined Markings” to establish a clearer
marking system for classifications and advice lines.
This review is open for public submission and you may
make your submission in written format or electronically
via an online questionnaire. Closing date for submissions
and the questionnaire is Thursday 23rd September 2004.
See the OFLC discussion paper for more information. http://www.oflc.gov.au/resource.html?resource=331&filename=331.pdf
Longitudinal study
strengthens obesity warning
The risk of obesity from idle lifestyles has been
reinforced in two separate studies.
A longitudinal study, “Association between child
and adolescent television viewing and adult health:
a longitudinal birth cohort study,” published
in The
Lancet has shown — from a long-term study
of one thousand children in New Zealand — that
children spending more than two hours a day watching
television had a much higher chance of becoming overweight,
have a high cholesterol and becoming addicted to cigarettes
by their mid-twenties. The study finds the 17% of overweight,
15% of raised serum cholesterol, 17% of smoking, and
15% of poor fitness in 26-year-olds can be attributed
to watching more than 2 hours a day of television during
childhood and adolescence.
Chances of developing obesity and becoming adult smokers
have been said to increase with every hour a child
spends watching television or playing video games in
a report based on measurements from 872 children living
in Switzerland. Chief researcher Nicolas Stettler,
M.D., M.S.C.E., from the Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia, announced the study. “To
our knowledge this study provides the strongest evidence
for an independent association between playing electronic
games and childhood obesity”, he comments. “Our
findings suggest that the use of electronic games should
be limited to prevent childhood obesity.”
Gerard Hastings, Professor of Social Marketing at
the University
of Strathclyde, has found that food ads are increasingly
influencing children’s eating habits and choices
of diet and that the same marketing tactics could be
used to promote healthy eating options. He said in
a recent visit to Australia that banning food ads would
help combat the obesity and overweight problems only
if encouraging healthy eating was added to the agenda.
News coverage
Research
- Stettler, N. (2004) "News release, Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia". Obesity Research.
Vol. 12, June, 2004, p. 896–303.
- Hancox, R.J.; Milne, B.J. & Poulton, R. (2004) "Association
between child and adolescent television viewing and
adult health: a longitudinal birth cohort study". The
Lancet. Vol. 364, No. 9430, 17 July, 2004, p.
257–262.
July 2004
“Hit” video game
sparks violence debate
A new video game called Hitman:
Contracts allows players to perform a “hit” on someone
with a variety of weapons and then watch a detailed replay of the
grisly death. The third instalment to the popular Hitman series
of games was released recently in Australia with an MA15+ Classification
and has refueled debate over the amount of violence in games and
the OFLC’s Classification process. The game features an improved
graphics engine which allows players to view their handy-work in
gory detail and the game control system which according to publisher
Eidos
Interactive has a “gradual learning curve (which) will
ensure that the game is accessible to all aspiring hitmen”.
Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls has alerted the federal government
to “community concerns” in relation to the game, and the
South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson has also expressed
his concern.
News coverage:
Parents' job harder with
new TV Code
Children’s television offerings may suffer with the introduction
of the new Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice. The
new Code reduces G time by a third and increases PG time by 50 percent,
necessitating more supervision of children’s television viewing
by their parents.
Read YMA’s
complete media release
Download a copy of the new Commercial
Television Industry Code of Practice and Explanatory Note from
Free TV Australia.
Related organisations:
News coverage:
Trapped in a web of Spider-man
promotions
The new movie from Marvel Comics and Sony Pictures, Spider-man
2, is a lavish affair touted by many acclaimed reviewers to
be one of the better movie adaptations of a comic book character
to date. The Spider-man marketing machine is also gearing up for
an equally elaborate campaign on consumers with tie-ins from toys,
video games, fast food promotions, cereals, drinks and many, many
other consumables.
These tie-ins invariably appeal to people of all ages including
many children who should not be watching the film due to the OFLC’s
M Classification (material classified M15+ is not recommended for
persons under 15 years of age, however there are no legal restrictions
on access). Parents will need to feel comfortable about their child’s
ability to cope with some of the content in this film before letting
them near the cinema. Read
YMA’s review of Spider-man 2 in our movie review section to
better prepare yourself.
News coverage
June 2004
Heightened children's media
exposure predicted by paediatricians
The probability that average Australian and New Zealand children
will experience a media exposure exceeding the time spent in classrooms
has prompted the Paediatrics and Child Health Division of the Royal
Australasian College of Physicians to release their Children
and the Media: Advocating for the Future paper.
Recommendations from the RACP paper include: greater funding and
promotion of quality children’s media in Australia and New
Zealand; regulation of food advertising during children’s television
time including greater government regulation of industry groups
(namely media organisations and marketers of fast food); regulatory
promotion of quality Australian and New Zealand produced commercial
children’s media, and increased funding for children’s
media in the ABC and the NZBC.
To read the RACP policy visit the Paediatrics
and Child Health Division. You may
also view their Guide for Parents and Guide for Professionals in
PDF format.
Connection found between
television viewing and sleep problems in adolescence
A report published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine this month has found a relationship between television
watching by adolescents and sleeping problems in adolescence and
early adulthood.
The paper states that: “Adolescents who reduced their television
viewing from 1 hour or longer to less than 1 hour per day experienced
a significant reduction in risk for subsequent sleep problems.”
Read
the summary here from the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine.
Harry Potter not for the
littlies warns psychologist
Many parents were mistakenly taking young children to the new Harry
Potter film, not realising that it could lead to distress and emotional
damage, well known psychologist Steve Biddulph warned today. Biddulph
reported that "Early screenings have visibly upset younger
children, especially the under 8s."
Biddulph explained that "The film's heroes, Harry and his
friends, are mid teens, and to be credible the film has to have
levels of fear and horror that would impact on a fifteen year old.
This meant that it had scenes that would certainly affect the mental
health of a six or eight year old. It seems that many parents simply
were not aware of the ratings, or were fooled by the movie's promotion
with toys and fast food tie-ins, into thinking this was kids'stuff."
However, in a decision last night (8th June 2004), the OFLC Classification
Review Board changed the original M rating to PG, stating that "the
impact of the frightening fantasy scenes was no higher than mild
and generally had a low sense of threat or menace." View the
OFLC press release Harry
Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban found to be PG upon review.
Despite the new PG rating, YMA urges parents to carefully consider
the movie's content and its rating before letting their young children
see this movie.
News coverage:
May 2004
Major media violence report ignored
In early March an important report, “The Influence of media
violence on youth”, prepared by a group of accomplished researchers
in this field, was published in the US journal Psychological
science in the public interest. (Vol 4(3), 81-110, with a cover
date of Dec 2003). There has been no Australian coverage.
This report is important given the expertise and knowledge of its
authors (Craig Anderson, Leonard Berkowitz, Edward Donnerstein,
Rowell Huesmann, James Johnson, Daniel Linz, Neil Malamuth, and
Ellen Wartella), the nature of their findings, and the fact these
were subjected to the scientific peer review process of the journal.
The report is of even more interest given its background. This
is detailed in the Editorial of that issue of PSPI, by Stephen Ceci
and Robert Bjork (p.i-iii).
In summary, the editors state that in 2000, the US Surgeon General
commissioned a large panel of accomplished scholars to write a definitive
report on the effects of media violence in society, as part of its
larger volume on Youth Violence. However, when that volume was released,
the section on media violence was missing. During the process of
drafting, the panel’s report was so altered in substantive
ways that the panel declined to have their names associated with
it. As a result the final SG volume contained only a brief discussion
of media violence as one risk factor to be considered.
The editors continue “... rather then allow their report to
be suppressed by those who were unhappy with their conclusions,
the panel agreed to submit their report for PSPI’s peer review
and publication... New theoretical sections have been added, and
the report has been updated ...”. They conclude that “the
best light that policy makers have - in this and other domains of
public interest - is the accumulated knowledge of experts”.
It’s high time that the reports of expert panels such as this
were taken seriously by policy makers in Australia. For how much
longer are we going to pretend that the jury is still out on this
issue?
We must act on the findings of the panel that “Research on
violent television and films, video games, and music reveals unequivocal
evidence that media violence increases the likelihood of aggressive
and violent behavior in both immediate and long-term contexts. The
effects appear larger for milder than for more severe forms of aggression,
but the effects on severe forms of violence are also substantial
... when compared with the effects of other violence risk factors
...” (p81)
Further information:
- Anderson, C.A., Berkowitz, L., Donnerstein, E., Huesmann, L.R.,
et al (2003). The
influence of media violence on youth. In Psychological
Science in the Public Interest. Vol. 4, No. 3, Dec, 2003,
p. 81-110.
April
2004
Toddlers’ TV use may cause attention
difficulties
A US study published in this April’s edition of Pediatrics
(Vol. 113, No. 4), shows that each hour of television viewing by
toddlersincreases the possibility of the child developing attention
problems by age 7. The study, “Early
Television Exposure and Subsequent Attentional Problems in Children”,
sampled over 2,500 US 1- and 3-year olds' TV viewing habits from
the (US) National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. The data shows that
1-year olds watched an average of 2.2 hours of television per day
and an average of 3.6 hours per day by the age of 3 (the data even
shows some toddlers are watching up to 12-16 hours of television
per day).
Young Media Australia recommends that parents use a discerning
eye when choosing television viewing for your child and make sure
that it is selected for age-appropriateness. There are few quality
television programmes directed to suit the needs of children aged
0—3 and the content of specific programmes can vary. If possible,
try to engage your toddlers and preschoolers in stimulating tasks
and entertainment other than watching TV. Above all, don’t
let your television play the babysitter.
For further information on early childhood development and the
media see the Young Media Australia Mind
Over Media project.
In the news
YMA launches Mind Over Media series
Young Media Australia’s Mind Over Media fact sheet
series delivers vital information directly to people that can really
make a difference in the early years of children’s lives.
March 2004
Bad food and sedentary lifestyles; obesity
becoming top killer
Independent studies released over the last month have reinforced
the need to address the alarming growth of overweight and obesity
rates worldwide.
The American
Psychological Association (APA) issued a study which highlighted
— amongst other matters — the need to restrict advertising
to children (see story below - APA urges cut in children’s
advertising); a release from the Kaiser
Family Foundation (KFF) also from the US looks at more than
40 different studies on the role media plays in the increasing rates
of childhood obesity.
“The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity” finds that there
is a correlation between the time children watch television and
their body weight; weight loss being achieved through intervention
of their media use; and that food advertising is influencing their
food choices.
Following in the wake of the reports from the KFF and the APA,
come statements from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) in the USA, where
in the period of 1990 to 2000, the combination of poor diets and
physical inactivity have been identified as the second highest preventable
cause of death among Americans. The CDCP study estimates the number
of deaths relating to poor diet and physical inactivity – 400,000
– rose by a third in those ten years, largely due to obesity
and related conditions such as diabetes and heart-disease.
The UK’s Food
Standards Agency (FSA) this month has tried to help curb the
growing obesity problems by agreeing to address the concerns of
imbalanced children’s diets and food promotion to children
by working with broadcasters, advertisers and industry bodies. They
hope to encourage a more responsible approach to advertising, by
promoting healthier attitudes toward food by children and cut back
on food commercials featuring snacks high in fat, sugar or salt.
The advertising industry has come under increasing pressure and
has made attempts to defend their high-budgeted marketing practices.
In February, US organisation Commercial
Alert launched a campaign for a worldwide ban on marketing of
junk food to children 12 years of age and under.
News coverage
For further information
Australian media compromised in the Free Trade
Agreement
The Australian entertainment industry has been dealt a low blow
with the release of the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement this month.
There are now concerns for Australian culture and content with the
possibility of a flood of affordably produced US content on the
Australian market.
Current local content rules for television maintain a figure of
at least 55 per cent of all free-to-air broadcast material to contain
Australian content. While the Free Trade Agreement maintains the
55 per cent rule for current broadcasts, it also proposes that only
20 per cent of the total amount of broadcast material on multi-channel
services will be subject to the local content ruling. This means
that out of a possible five channels for a free-to-air broadcaster
on digital television, only two need to carry a selection of local
content.
Additionally, pay TV providers only need to produce 10 per cent
of Australian content. The Free Trade Agreement also prevents the
Australian Government from raising the amount of local content beyond
55 per cent.
Media coverage
- FTA
details released. ABC Online. 4 March 2004
- Gabriella Coslovich 'Film,TV
industry reeling' The Age. 5 March 2004
- Let's
screen this deal. Herald Sun. 7 March 2004
- James Riley 'FTA joy goes sour' News.com.au.
9 March 2004
Further information
APA urges cut in children’s advertising
The American
Psychological Association (APA) has recommended advertising
affecting young children of eight years and younger be restricted,
in a report released late February 2004. The 'Report of the APA
task force on advertising and children' addresses concerns of
the expanding commercialisation of childhood and the real impact
of televised advertising and ads in classrooms on children; particularly
developing unhealthy habits from food advertising.
The APA states that an average American child watches over 40,000
television commercials per year, paid for by more than $12 billion
(US) in marketing to the youth market. The APA’s research has
found that children under eight years cannot significantly comprehend
advertising on television and take the ad’s message as accurate
and fair. Also reported was children’s lack of cognitive development
to understand the influence commercials have on them and so are
particularly vulnerable.
' “Because younger children do not understand persuasive
intent in advertising, they are easy targets for commercial persuasion,”
said psychologist Brian Wilcox, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
and Director of the Center on Children, Families and the Law at
the University of Nebraska and chair of the task force. “This
is a critical concern because the most common products marketed
to children are sugared cereals, candies, sweets, sodas and snack
foods. Such advertising of unhealthy food products to young children
contributes to poor nutritional habits that may last a lifetime
and be a variable in the current epidemic of obesity among kids.”
'
The APA have also suggested further investigation into the effects
of advertising on the internet to younger audiences and better disclosure
of the fine print towards young people (i.e. instead of “some
assembly required”, use language children can understand “you
need to put it together”). Concern was also voiced over advertising
directed toward an adult market but during programming which children
would be exposed to (eg. Beer ads during a sporting event).
Links to the APA task force report and other documents can be found
from the APA Press Release, Television
advertising leads to unhealthy habits in children; says APA task
force.
Related organisations:
February 2004
ABC RN looks at product placement
The ABC has broadcast two stories of interest recently, one on
the push to include more PG programming in G time and the second
a story on the reality of product placement.
The ABC Online - AM website has a transcript from the first
story, broadcast on 21 February. The second story was broadcast
on the ABC Radio National - Background Briefing program on
22 February, and highlights "TV, movies and books becoming
'glorified infomercials'. And the audience into a life support system
for their wallets." The story will be repeated on Tuesday 24th
February at 7pm or you may download a streaming version of the broadcast
from the Background Briefing website. Transcripts should be available
after the 26th February 2004.
The Young Media
Australia Movie Review Service will soon be incorporating a
feature to highlight commercialism or examples of product placement
within new film reviews.
- Steven Skinner (reporter). Push
for PG-rated daytime TV. ABC Online - AM. 21st February
2004.
- Steven Skinner (reporter). Embedded
ads. ABC Online - Radio National Background Briefing.
22nd February 2004.
Challenge for industry with Safer Internet
Day
Young Media Australia (YMA), gives support to the European Commission’s
Safer Internet Day, a day which celebrates children’s right
to a safer internet. While acknowledging the many gains that have
been made in protecting children from well-known dangers on the
internet such as child pornography, chat rooms and invasion of privacy,
a new challenge now exists for the industry and regulators.
Read the full media
release.
January 2004
Safer Internet Day
"Working Together for Children’s Right to a Safer
Internet". The worldwide celebration, Safer Internet Day,
held on 6th February and is being promoted by the Safer
Internet Awareness Campaign - from a project of the European
Commission’s Safer Internet Programme and is the celebration
of children’s right to a safer Internet.
Safer Internet Day is a day to celebrate the belief that things
can change in order to achieve a safer Internet for children and
that we can get actively involved in order to attain this.
A conference has been organised to coincide with Safer Internet
Day by the Cyberspace
Research Unit at the University of Central Lancashire. The conference
covers issues such as E-confidence, self-regulation, Government
approaches, and the application and experiences of Internet safety
strategies.
NZ bans video game
Manhunt, a video game which encourages players to slay their
victims in the most unique way, has recently been banned in New
Zealand. This game is created by the same company responsible for
bringing us Max Payne, Grand Theft Auto and Grand Theft
Auto: Vice City.
News coverage:
Further Information:
YMA challenges MA15+ change
The OFLC has announced that the film and computer game classification
category "MA15+" (Mature Accompanied; children under the
age of 15 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian) is
to be changed.
This decision, taken by the State and Territory Ministers responsible
for classification, follows research undertaken by the OFLC which
showed that there was a very low public understanding of the meaning
of the "MA15+" symbol. (see OFLC Annual Report, 2002-2003,
Appendix Five, p. 102). The new symbol for this category is to be
"A15+" where, the "A" symbol will mean "Accompanied".
Read the entire YMA release
