In the News
December 2005
King Kong is not kids’
stuff
“King Kong is, for young children, one of the year’s
most scary M classified movies” warns Jane Roberts, President
of Young Media Australia (YMA), “and yet it is being widely
promoted to the under 8s via cereal packets and fast food meals”
Parents are urged to check the content of King Kong by either
ringing the YMA Helpline (1800 700 357) or going to the YMA website
(www.youngmedia.org.au). Use of YMA’s award winning “Know
before You Go” service can save children unnecessary distress
and ongoing trauma.
Does
educational software make your toddler smarter?
The Kaiser Family Foundation (USA) has released a report "A
Teacher in the living room? Educational media for babies, toddlers,
and preschoolers" which examines the educational claims
about commercially available educational media products (videos
and DVDs, computer software, and video games) for very young children.
They found that though some companies conduct in-house research,
there are no studies of cognitive outcomes for any of the products
currently on the market for children 0-6 years. To read the Kaiser Family Foundation report go to:
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia121405pkg.cfm
TV
link to obesity stronger than diet/activity
R J Hancox and R Poulton of University of Otago, NZ, assessed the
impact of television viewing during childhood and adolescence on
body mass index (BMI) in children up to the age of 15 years. Their
study confirmed that watching TV in childhood is associated with
increased BMI. "Although effect size appears small, the correlation
between television viewing and BMI is stronger than reported correlations
between BMI and diet, or physical activity......watching television
is an important contributing factor to the current epidemic of childhood
obesity".
International Journal of Obesity, Vol 30 p 171-175, 13 September
2005
November 2005
Harry
Potter is M, but merchandising may mislead
On 23 November, the Classification Review Board (CRB) upheld the
M classification for the latest Harry Potter movie—Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire. While applauding the decision,
which recognises that fantasy violence can be disturbing to young
children, YMA warns parents to heed the M rating, that is, that
the movie is not recommended for those under 15 years of age. The
marketing of Harry Potter toys and other products to very young
children could mislead parents into thinking that the movie is okay
for young children.
YMA
wins 2005 National Child Protection Award
On November 20th Young Media Australia (YMA) received an award
in the National Child Protection Awards held in Canberra, for its
“Know before you go: preventing adverse impacts of screen media
on young children”. Young Media Australia sends a reviewer
with child development experience to all new G, PG and some M movies.
The reviews signal content that might be disturbing for different
ages and stages of childhood, so that parents can avoid movies that
might not be appropriate (for example, those with very scary scenes)
for their child. These reviews are published on the YMA website
www.youngmedia.org.au, and are accessible via the YMA Helpline 1800
700 357. The Adelaide Advertiser prints one review in each Saturday's
Review section as a “Movie Monitor” column. Many parents
have expressed their appreciation for the service.
YMA’s Vice President Jane Roberts states “YMA’s
role in supporting families with their movie choices becomes more
critical all the time. As M rated movies are marketed to under eights
through toy tie-ins and other merchandise, parents need more than
ever to be informed about the content of movies before allowing
their children to see them. M rated movies often contain violence
and scary visual images that while often excellent for over 15s,
could seriously disturb very young children. It is great to have
official acknowledgement of the role we are playing in keeping children
safe. It's an outrage that the marketing and merchandising industy
associated with M movies persists in targeting young children."
The National Child Protection Awards acknowledge and recognise
organisations that demonstrate significant contributions to preventing
and addressing child abuse and neglect. The Awards also recognise
collaborative efforts that help raise and sustain the level of public
awareness in the community about issues relating to child abuse
and neglect.
For more information about the National Child Protection Awards
go to the Australian Council for Children and Parenting (ACCAP)
website: www.facs.au/accap
MJA:
adolescents and the media
The Medical Journal of Australia's issue of October 17 (Vol 183
(8) 425-426) has as its focus the health of adolescents. In a timely
editorial, US researcher Victor Strasburger challenges paediatricians
and parents about their apparent lack of understanding and concern
about the media messages that inundate adolescents, and which are
harmful to their health. For further information go to:
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/183_08_171005/str10407_fm.html
Toddlers'
TV time affects sleep
DA Thompson and DA Christakis of University of Washington, Seattle
report (Pediatrics Vol 116 (4) 2005 pp 851-6) that mean hours
of TV watching among infants and toddlers (drawn from a nationally
representative sample of children 4-35 months of age) were .9 hrs/day
for children <12 months, .6 hrs/day for 12-33 months, and 2.3
hrs/day for 24-35 months. The number of hours of television watched
per day was associated with both an irregular naptime schedule and
an irregular bedtime schedule. For more information see:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/
October 2005
NZ report on underage game
players
The NZ Office of Film and Literature Classification released a
research report on 22 September showing that the majority of teenagers
surveyed had played computer games that cannot legally be supplied
to them. For more detail see:
http://www.censorship.govt.nz/news28.html
ABC Four Corners probes childhood
obesity
On Monday Oct 17, Ticky Fullerton of ABC TV Four Corners presented
a comprehensive review of the issues behind the growing problem
of childhood obesity. The program revealed a great divide between
the public health experts and Federal Minister for Health Tony Abbott,
on the issue of how much responsibility should be placed on parents
in a media and marketing environment that does not support healthy
choices. For transcripts of interviews with Minsiter Abbott, and
some guests see:
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1480656.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1482430.htm
September 2005
TV sex and violence hurt
ads
New research by Brad Bushman of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
shows that commercials placed in programs with sex or violence content
had reduced
effectiveness in terms of recall of the ad, interest in buying that
brand, and likelihood of selection. Given that both forms of content
have been
shown to have negative impacts on society, Bushman concludes that
the combination of such programming and ads, is both bad for society
and bad for
business.
"Violence and sex in television programs do not sell products
in advertisements" Psychological Science Vol 16(9)2005, p702-708.
Full text at http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bbushman/B05.pdf
Screens and seizures: take
care!
New recommendations published this week in the journal Epilepsia
can help families reduce the risks to children, who suffer epilepsy,
from flashing images on TV and in computer games. The Epilepsy Foundation
of America has developed guidelines for avoiding light-induced seizures,
after an expert review of the literature. Some children with undetected
epilepsy may have their first seizure during or soon after playing
computer games.
Epilepsia. Vol. 46 Issue 9 Page 1423 September 2005
Photic- and Pattern-induced Seizures: Expert Consensus of the Epilepsy
Foundation of America Working Group
Graham Harding, Arnold J. Wilkins, Giuseppe Erba, Gregory L. Barkley,
Robert S. Fisher
School holiday screen courses
VCA: School Holiday Film Making Course
Dates:26 Sep - 2 Oct
Location: VIC
This September school holidays, the VCA is holding a 5 and a half
day practical filmaking course for teens in its state-of-the-art
studios in Melbourne.
For more information Contact Email: l.porter@vca.unimelb.edu.au
* NEW! VCA: Film making for teenagers
Dates:26 Sep - 2 Oct
Location: VIC
This September school holidays, the VCA is holding a 5 and a half
day practical filmaking course for teens in its state-of-the-art
studios in Melbourne.
For more information Contact Email: e.white@vca.unimelb.edu.au
*NEW! School Holiday TV Acting Workshop
Dates: 20 Sep - 24 Sep
Location: VIC
Jan Russ is the casting director for Australia's most successful
TV drama Neighbours and is one of the most influential casting directors
in Australia.
For more information call: Ph: 1300 559 097
August 2005
Violent Video Games: New
Research Review
Violent video games can increase aggressive behaviour in children
and adolescents, both in the short- and long-term, according to
an empirical review of the last 20 years of research conducted by
Jessica Nicoll, B.A., and Kevin M. Kieffer, Ph.D., of Saint Leo
University. These findings are presented at the 113th Annual Convention
of the American Psychological Association in Washington, DC August
19. The children who played more violent video games had more arguments
with authority figures and were more likely to be involved in physical
altercations with other students. They also performed more poorly
on academic tasks. Furthermore, violent video game players tend
to imitate the moves that they just 'acted out' in the game they
played. For further information go directly to APA
press releases.
Activity Guidelines urge
limits on screen time
As one solution to the problem of rising obesity levels in Australian
children, the Australian Government have released National Physical
Activity Guidelines for children 5-12 years, and for young people
12-18 years. The guidelines can be found on the Building
a Healthy, Active Australia initiative website. These
pamphlets have major recommendations, firstly to do at least 60
mins of exercise a day, and secondly, not to spend more than 2 hrs
a day using electronic media. YMA thinks that these recommendations
are fine as far as they go, but suggests that the latter recommendation
will need far more practical support (including community programs
with parents) if it is to make an impression. YMA's contribution
to the obesity problem can be found at Through
Thick or Thin.
Fantastic Four not for under
13s
YMA's movie reviewers are concerned that the Classification Review
Board's (CRB) decision to lower the classification of the film Fantastic Four from M (recommended for mature audiences) to
PG (Parental Guidance Recommended), will mean that many young children
will be exposed to material potentially harmful to them. The CRB
claims that "the impact of the violence in the film is reduced
because of its stylised comic book nature in the relevant scenes".
YMA awaits receipt of the full reasons for the CRB decision, but
urges parents to read YMA's
full review
New findings on TV and young
minds
The current issue of the Journal Archives of Pediatric and
Adolesecent Medicine (vol 159(7) July 2005)carries 4 articles
with findings relevant to the impact of media on the cognitive develeopment
of the young. These include Hancox et al (on educational achievement),
Zimmerman et al (cognitive outcomes), Chernin at el (academic performance),
Borzekowski et al (household media environment and academic achievement). http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/current.dtl
Taken overall, the message is "keep the TV out of the bedroom,
and TV viewing at a young age is not helpful to development".
ABA + ACA =ACMA
As of July 1, the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australian
Communications Authorities have merged to form the new Australian
Communications and Media Authority. see www.acma.gov.au The existing standards, codes etc of the 2 authorities remain,
and links to them from these pages still work. As time permits,
YMA will update these.
Want to complain about TV?
If you want to complain about something you've seen on TV and
you want to do it effectively, you need to complain promptly and
directly to the station you were watching. The commercial
stations have a form that
you can use to lodge your complaint. For more details
see How to complain.
Music videos and soaps linked
to body image
A recent study by Flinders University (Adelaide, South Australia)
researcher Marika Tiggeman has shown that boys who watched music
videos were at risk of wanting lean and hyper-muscular physiques,
and that girls were at even higher risk from images of thinness
and beauty in both soap operas and music videos. It was the material
watched and not the amount of time that was a critical factor.
Media violence linked to
concentration, self-control
The Indiana University School of Medicine and investigators, led
by Vincent P. Mathews, M.D., professor of radiology, have concluded
that media violence exposure may be associated with alterations
in brain function whether or not prior aggressive behavior is involved.
This study builds on earlier research that showed exposure to violent
media affects the brains of youths with aggressive tendencies differently
than the brains of non-aggressive youths. The preliminary results,
released in December 2002, showed less brain activity in the frontal
lobe of youths with an aggression disorder as they watched violent
video games.
Nightime fears linked to
TV and movie exposure
A Monash study of 500 Victorian children has found one in three
attribute their night-time fears to frightening images in popular
entertainment. The results have prompted Monash researcher Dr Jocelynne
Gordon to encourage parents to be more discerning about their children's
television and movie exposure.
Dr Gordon, from the Faculty of Education, interviewed the children
aged eight to 16 years about their night-time fears. Nearly 30 per
cent of the children said their fears stemmed from frightening images
on television, videos and movies.
Star wars movie is M, and
should be!
The Classification Board gave the movie, due to be screened on
May 19, an M classification for medium level violence. YMA's reviewers
say the film contains many disturbing images and themes.
Elizabeth Handsley, YMA's Vice President, deplored the message
being sent to young children by marketers: “Young Media Australia
fully supports the OFLC's M15+ rating, that is, not recommended
for children under the age of fifteen. The movie has some very strong
content and themes, and powerful and disturbing images that could
do real harm to children who are exposed to them.”
New appointments to Classification
Review Board
Gillian Groom and Anthony Hetrih were appointed to the Review Board
of the Office
of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) last week. Kathryn
Smith was re-appointed for a further term. Existing memebers of
the Review Board include Maureen Shelley (Convenor) and Trevor Griffin
(deputy Convenor), and Rob Shilkin.
TV watching as a predictor
of bullying?
Frederick Zimmerman has led a research team at the University of
Washington, Seattle to determine whether cognitive stimulation,
emotional support, and television viewing at age 4 years are independently
associated with being a bully at ages 6 through 11 years.
The research concludes that the early home environment, including
cognitive stimulation, emotional support, and exposure to television,
has a significant impact on bullying in grade school.
News coverage
February 2005
ABC grilled over children's
programs
Errol Simper of The Australian ("Why ABC
loves a toy story", Feb 24 p24) reports on the Feb
14 Senate Estimates grilling of ABC Managing
Director, Russell Balding, by Tasmanian Kerry O'Brien.
O'Brien tackled Balding over the advertisement by ABC
Enterprises last year for "expressions of interest
in developing a program for toddlers or slightly older
girls, which was accompanied by a rider that the program
should be commercially saleable intellectual property
for the ABC". Further the program should have broad
international potential both for television program sales
and ancilliary rights. O'Brien succeeded in getting Balding
to confirm that "if two programs are potentially
good quality programs , and one has better ancillary
rights exploitation potential, then the one with the
ancillary rights exploitation will get up".
The article and O'Brien's grilling (see
Hansard for Senate Estimates) are well
worth reading.
UK review finds media violence a
public health issue
UK researcher Prof Kevin Browne of University of Birmingham
has reviewed the existing research on impact of media
violence on children and young people from a public health
perspective and finds "consistent evidence that
violent imagery in television, film and video, and computer
games has substantial short-term effects on arousal,
thoughts and emotions, increasing the likelihood of aggressive
or fearful behaviour in younger children, especially
boys." The report is published in The Lancet vol
365 Feb 19 2005 p702-710.
January 2005
Adelaide Film Festival
for kids program
For the first time, the critically acclaimed biennial
Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) will present a program of
films especially for children. In an Australian first
the AFF 05 presents a selection of the best films from
the celebrated Giffoni Film Festival.
Every year the small village of Giffoni in Campagna,
Italy, welcomes thousands of children from all over the
globe aged from 6-19 years. They form juries and select
their best films of the year. This groundbreaking film
festival, established 34 years ago by director Claudio
Gubitosi, celebrates cinema, encouraging and respecting
children and young people's ability to critically engage
with this all pervasive art form.
AFF 05 will present a full day devoted to screenings
for children on February 27, along with forums and discussions
panels for and by children. The AFF wants to hear their
opinions and explore their questions as they engage with
the all pervasive art form of film.
Films that will be screened on February 27, 2005 include:
- 10.00am Carol's Journey12-14 yrs: Greater
Union 1
- 10.30am Wild Soccer Bunch 6-9 yrs: Greater
Union 2
- 10.45am Breath Control (M) 15-18 yrs: Mercury
Cinema
- 1.45pm Daniel and the Superdogs 10-12 yrs:
Greater Union 1
- 2.45pm The Wooden Camera 12-14 yrs: Greater
Union 2
- 2.45pm Bonjour Mr Shlomi (M) 15-18 yrs:
Mercury Cinema
Further details are available from the AFF
website or by phoning the Adelaide Film Festival
office on (08) 8271 1488.
Comment on proposed classification
markings by Feb 24
Following feedback from the community and industry,
the Office of Film and Literature Classification has
drafted new requirements for classification markings
for films and computer games. These markings (which include
the classification symbols and consumer advice lines)
mainly occur in advertising for films, and on the packaging
for videos and computer games. The requirements will
include voiceovers to precede feature films in public
exhibition.
The new proposals can be found at http://www.oflc.gov.au/content.html?n=170&p=123 and
comment can be emailed to oflcswitch@oflc.gov.au no
later than 24 Feb 2005.
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