small screen News Digest of Australian Council on Children and the Media (incorporating Young Media ) ISSN: 0817-8224 High volume video gamers have more No. 258 October 2009 difficulty staying attentive determine attention. In the task, individu- Adelaide seminar als identified the color of a word when the Iowa State University news reports that color and word matched, or did not match. a new Iowa State University study has Bratz, Britney & Bralettes: It takes longer to indicate the color when found that high volume action video game play- the word does not match. The sexualisation of childhood ers -- those who play around 40 hours per week -- have more difficulty keeping focused on tasks The study found that reactive attention requiring longer, more proactive attention than control -- described as happening “just in Steve Biddulph, author & psychologist those who play video games for less than a cou- time” -- was similar in the two groups of Julie Gale, Director, Kids Free 2B Kids ple of hours a week. gamers. But brain wave and behavioral Elizabeth Handsley, Vice President ACCM measures of proactive attention were sig- The study, published in the professional nificantly diminished in the frequent video Chair: Matthew Abraham ABC Radio journal Psychophysiology, also supports re- game players. search published within the last year es- 7 for 7.30pm Monday 23 November 2009 tablishing a positive association between “It’s not clear what the effects would be if being addicted to playing video games and we tested people who were playing 10 or Immanuel College having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). 20 hours a week,” West said. “So we don’t 32 Morphett Road, Novar Gardens SA know if it’s a graded effect or threshold ef- Rob West, one of the study’s authors, an as- fect -- like maybe 10’s OK, but 20’s not. We sociate professor of psychology said, “Our Tickets $27.50 don’t have those kinds of data yet. thinking right now is the sort of real world [email protected] effect that you might be seeing is that these “As you can imagine, this study could have Ph 08 8376 2111 are individuals who would really have dif- implications for classroom and work per- ficulty trying to maintain their attention formance for those people who play a lot Book now - filling fast! independently over time. So if they’re en- of video games,” he added. gaged in some activity that doesn’t really capture their attention -- like maybe a class- Kira Bailey, Robert West, Craig A. Ander- Inquiry into impact of violence son. (2009) A negative association be- room lecture, or studying in a quiet space on young Australians -- they’re going to have difficulty maintain- tween video game experience and proac- ing attention on their own.” tive cognitive control. Psychophysiology. ACCM has lodged a submission with Early View, October 2009 the House of Representatives Stand- ISU psychology graduate student Kira Bai- ing Committee on Family, Community, ley led the study. The authors also includ- http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2009/ Housing and Youth Inquiry into the im- ed Distinguished Professor of Psychology oct/attention pact of violence. ACCM has argued that: Craig Anderson, director of Iowa State’s Professor Elizabeth Handsley and Center for the Study of Violence. • the evidence from the reliable body Dr Michael Rich have pleasure in of research on the impact of media In the study, data was collected from 51 announcing: violence on the young is compelling Iowa State undergraduate men (ages 18 • media violence is a contributor to the to 33) who were nearly evenly divided THE HARVARD-AUSTRALIA incidence of violence in real life between those who reported playing less SYMPOSIUM ON MEDIA USE & • short term exposure to media vio- than a couple of hours of video games per CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING lence increases the predisposition to week, and those who played video games aggress for both chidrenand adults an average of 43 hours per week. 18 February 2010 regardless “We were not actually measuring the most Flinders University • repeated exposure to media violence extreme ends,” West said. “There were ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA is likely to have further deleterious people who we were unable to recruit and effects, including greater fear, -a hos have data for who have higher rates than 43 Scholars and professionals from a range of tile bias whereby others are seen as hours per week. So this is probably on the disciplinary backgrounds will be invited to threatening and dangerous, greater high end, but it’s certainly not the highest. contribute their insights on the question of hostility, desensitisation to further You get some undergrads self-reporting how best to work together for the protection and depictions of violence, beliefs that they’re playing 9 or 10 hours a day.” enhancement of children’s interests. normalising aggression and detailed and generalised scripts for aggressive Electrical activity in each subject’s brain was Inquiries: behaviour recorded through EEG’s from their scalp [email protected] • it is one factor about which we can while they were engaged in the computer +61-8-8201-5256 take effective remedial steps. Stroop Task -- a standard measure used to

Video gamers and attention US children watching more TV Editorial: ACCM’s views on the Adelaide seminars Free TV Code review Smart choices for your health? small screen October 2009 p2

EDITORIAL

ACCM’s views on the conduct of the the proposed revisions to the Code Free TV code review at this point with care. no. 258 October 2009 The Australian Council on Children and the 3) The proposed amendments to 3.14 small screen Media has been a participant in the recent review (which have the effect of relaxing of the Free TV Code of Practice. There are some the present restrictions on the Editor: Barbara Biggins OAM promotion of MA programs) cause Barbara Biggins Compiler: Caroline Donald aspects of this review which concern us. These OAM Editorial Board: Barbara Biggins, include: ACCM some considerable concern. Hon CEO Jane Roberts, Judy Bundy, Elizabeth Handsley. 1) This review was not structured as an open As stated in our submission to Free TV, we know ended review: that parents object to being ambushed by promos small screen is published at the a) There was no open invitation for the public of M programs in early evening hours now, and beginning of each month and to freely comment on any aspect of concern to reports on the events of the will resent this provision being extended to MA them. previous month 11 issues per programs. Such promotions are required by the year (Dec/Jan double issue) b) No general issues paper released Free TV Code to be “sanitised” to be acceptable in Published by c) The public were invited to comment on the some time slots. Australian Council on changes that Free TV had already decided Children and the Media they wanted to make (viz via a “marked In the view of ACCM such “sanitised” promotions (ACCM) up” document, with explanatory memo. The are misleading in that they do not convey the PO Box 447 Explanatory Note invited the public to make actual nature of the program being promoted. Glenelg 5045 comment on “the proposed revised Code” . Further the classification of such programs mostly South Australia appears for a very few seconds only. [email protected] The ACCM believes that the presentation of the www.youngmedia.org.au Review documents would not have encouraged ACCM has asked ACMA to consider the question Tel: +61 8 8376 2111 the general public to make comments outside of of whether by approving such provisions (if it Fax: +61 8 8376 2122 Helpline: 1800 700 357 the proposed changes, and queries whether this intends to do so) it is in effect giving its imprimatur method provides “an adequate opportunity for to a misleading practice. ACCM is a national, non-profit the public to comment” on the Code. (this aspect community organisation. has to satisfy the Australian Communications 4) Summary of submissions supplied to ACMA. Its mission is to promote a quality media environment for and Media Authority). Australian children. We understand that Free TV summarises the 2) The Explanatory Note and Explanatory Table public submissions received, and does not No part of this publication contained statements about proposals for changes in fact provide ACMA with full copies of all may be reproduced without to the promotion of M and MA programs that submissions. permission of the Editor. were not consistent with the “marked up” version Contributions are welcome. of the Code. We have asked ACMA to consider whether this practice (if it is the case) hinders ACMA in We drew attention in our submission to what its deliberations of whether the revised Code ACCM’s services are appears to be a drafting contradiction between “provides adequate safeguards for the matters it supported by grants clauses 3.6 and 3.14 of Program promotion covers”. from the section. We have also asked ACMA to examine South Australian Government A cautionary note on A Christmas Carol

Parents are warned that this is not a film for young children. It certainly deserves the PG rating with DIARY DATE the guidelines “Mild themes and scary scenes” ACCM’s Web Page and which it was given by the Australian Government Broadband access Classification Board Sex, violence and rock’n’roll: are supported by its Reviewing the evidence for Internet Service Provider ACCM’s reviewer suggests that the film is not recommended for viewers under 8, with parental media effects on children Internode guidance recommended to 13, as children in the 8-13 age group may also be disturbed by scenes of , Friday March 19 supernatural events and frightening characters. The scenes involving the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come are particularly frightening for young International researchers will address issues of media violence, and sexualisation Publication and children. of the young. printing of small screen Our reviewer pointed out that the scary scenes is supported by are made more intense by the 3D version of the Want to be kept informed? film which is showing in many cinemas. To read the ACCM review of this film go to the Send an email with “SVR” in the subject ACCM website and click on the movie review line, and your name and contact details to button on the home page. [email protected] “ www.youngmedia.org.au Clips ‘n’ Cuts small screen no. 258 October 2009 small screen October 2009 p4 small screen October 2009 p5 small screen October 2009 p6 small screen October 2009 p7 NEW PUBLICATIONS

ADVERTISING Vader, AM; et al (2009) Zea, NP; et al (2009) Montgomery, KC & Chester, J (2009) Television viewing and snacking Design of educational multiplayer Interactive food and beverage behaviors of fourth- and eighth-grade videogames: A vision from collaborative marketing: Targeting adolescents in the schoolchildren in Texas. learing. digital age. Preventing Chronic Disease, Vol. 6, No. 3, Advances in Engineering Software, Vol. 40, Journal of Adolescent Health, No. 45, No. 3, Pp1-10 No. 12, Pp1251-1260 PpS18-S29 Jones, RA; et al (2009) VIOLENCE Magnus, A; et al (2009) Developing an online program to Green, David A (2008) prevent obesity in preschool-aged The cost-effectiveness of removing Suitable vehicles: Framing blame and children: What do parents recommend? television advertising of high-fat and/or justice when children kill a child. Nutrition & Dietetics, Vol. 66, No. 3, Pp151- high-sugar food and beverages to Crime, Media, Culture, Vol. 4, No. 2, Pp197- 157 Australian children. 220 International Journal of Obesity, Vol. 33, No. 10, Pp1094-1102 MEDIA EFFECTS-PSYCHOLOGICAL Anderson, CA & Carnagey, NL (2009) Cooper, NR; et al (2009) Causal effects of violent sports Kelly, B; et al (2009) Conditioning attentional skills: video games on aggression: Is it Parental awareness and attitudes examining the effects of the pace competitiveness or violent content? of food marketing to children: a of television editing on children’s Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, community attitudes survey of parents attention span. Vol. 45, No. 4, Pp731-739 in New South Wales, Australia. ACTA Paediatrica, Vol. 98, No. 10, Pp1651- Journal of Paediatric Child Health, Vol. 45, 1655 No. 9, Pp493-497 SPECIAL ISSUE COMPUTERS & INTERNET MEDIA EFFECTS - SOCIAL Notley, Tanya (2009) Mawson, Brent (2008) Televizion 22/2009/E Young people, online networks, and Pretend I’m dead, eh: The place of death A series of articles, research and social inclusion. in socio-dramatic play. program comment. Journal of Computer Mediated Research in Early Childhood http://www.izi.de Communication, Vol. 14, No. 4, Pp1208- Education, Vol. 11, Pp51-63 1227 Hastings, EC; et al (2009) Mathers, M; et al (2009) Young children’s video/computer game NEW BOOK Electronic media use and adolescent use: relations with school performance health and well-being: Cross-sectional and behavior. community study. Issues Mental Health Nursing, Vol. 30, No. Academic Pediatrics, Vol. 9, No. 5, Pp307- 10, Pp638-649 314

Mishna, Faye; et al (2009) REGULATION Interventions for children, youth, and (2009) New standards for children’s television parents to prevent and reduce cyber abuse. released. The Campbell Collaboration, ACMAsphere, No. 45, September 2009, www,campbellcollaboration.org Pp3-4

(2009) Staying safe with Cybersmart VIDEO GAMES Bailey, K; West, R; Anderson, CA (2009) Detectives. ACMAsphere, No. 46, October 2009, Pp8-9 A negative association between Longing and Belonging: Parents, video game experience and proactive Children, and Consumer Culture MEDIA EDUCATION cognitive control. Mendoza, Kelly (2009) Psychophysiology, DOI: 10.1111/j.1469- Allison J. Pugh (2009) Surveying parental mediation: 8986.2009.00925.x Connections, challenges and questions University of California Press, LA for media literacy. Fischer, P; et al (2009) Journal of Media Literacy Education, Vol. 1, Media violence and the self: The impact Allison Pugh explores the problems of No. 1, Pp28-41 of personalized gaming charaters in rearing children in a consumer society and aggressive video games on aggressive how children make meaning from con- Moeller, Susan D (2009) behavior. sumption. Media literacy: Understanding the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, News. In Press, doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2009.06.010.x A review of the book by Lisa Jacobson, http://cima.ned.org author of Raising consumers: Children & the Hong, JC; et al (2009) American mass market in the 20th century, can MEDIA EFFECTS - HEALTH Assessing the educational values of be read at

Russ, SA; et al (2009) digital games. http://www.tcrecord.org/Content. Associations between media use and Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Vol. asp?ContentID=15809 health in US children. 25, No. 5, Pp423-437 Academic Pediatrics, Vol. 9, No. 5, Pp300- 306 Membership rates $Aus (inc GST) AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND THE MEDIA Organisational Membership/Subscription Application National $210.00 Tax Invoice State $75.00 Individual $55.00 small screen subscription (for non-members) Name: ______In Australia $66.00 Organisation: ______Outside Australia $66.00 Address: ______New membership Renewal ______small screen subscription ______Donation (tax deductible $2 & over) ______Postcode:______Total

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WORLD NEWS

US children watching more TV collaborative campaign to boycott the The festival includes programme sexualisation of childhood both locally and screenings, international discussion groups New findings from the Nielsen Company internationally. and reports of on research on children’s show that American children aged 2-11 are media. watching more television than they have The successful “Cotton Off Our Kids” in years. Children aged 2-5 now spend campaign was launched by NCWNZ a The deadline for programme entries is more than 32 hours a week on average in few months ago and attracted groups with 15 December 2009. More details: front of a TV screen. The older segment of a representative number of half a million that group (ages 6-11) spend a little less in New Zealand. The campaign also http://www.prixjeunesse.de/ time, about 28 hours per week watching worked collaboratively with the Australian TV, partly because they are more likely organisation, Kids Free 2B Kids. to be attending school for longer hours. http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/ While 97% of kids’ viewing is through manufacturers-retailers-and-advertisers- KIDS’ TV live TV, younger kids spend more time take-note/5/27845 than the older group viewing via DVR, A selection of children’s programs DVD and, to a lesser extent, VCR. Four Smart choices for your health? screened on TV during the period percent of kids aged 2-5 watch via those Nutritionists in th US have been dismayed devices on average across a total day ABC to find that a seal meant to flag healthier compared to 2.3% of those aged 6-11. Behind the News; Science Clips; Escape food has been granted to products such as from Scorpion Island; Blue Water High; Younger children also watch more sugary cereals and heavily salted packaged ABC2 commercials than those aged 6-11. They meals. Microscopic Milton; Pororo the Little also watch commercials in playback mode Penguin; Inuk; Louie; Creature Features; more than older kids and adults, as well as A new food-labeling campaign called Little Amadeus. watch their favorite shows over and over Smart Choices, backed by most of America’s SEVEN and over on DVD, VOD and DVR. largest food manufacturers, is “designed to ; It’s Academic;Sea Princesses; help shoppers easily identify smarter food Staines Down Drains. http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/ and beverage choices.” NINE media_entertainment/tv-viewing-among- Dora the Explorer; Kids’ WB; Pixel kids-at-an-eight-year-high/ Foods with the Smart Choices checkmark Pinkie; Shaggy & Scooby Doo; Pyramid; include sugar-laden cereals like Froot The Saddle Club. Boycott goes international Loops, full fat mayonnaise and Fudgsicle TEN bars. Nutritionists say that the criteria used The International Council of Women Totally Wild; Toasted TV; Puzzle Play; by the program were seriously flawed (ICW) General Assembly has voted H2O: Just Add Water; Pearlie. unanimously in support of the New NICKELODEON http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/ Zealand resolution on stopping the Drake & Josh; My Friend Mark; The business/05smart.html?partner=rss sexualisation of childhood through Wonder Pets; Neds Declassified; Just &emc=rss production, marketing and retailing of Jordan; Lockie Leonard; El Tigre; Pop It!; children’s products. The Fairly Odd Parents. Prix Jeunesse International 2010 DISNEY CHANNEL National Council of Women New Zealand The Suite Life of Zack & Cody; Cory in The world’s leading festival and will now be dispatching resources to the House; A Kind of Magic; Phineas & competiton for children’s and youth various National Councils of Women Ferb; Sonny with a Chance; Jonas;Yin television programs will take place around the world, to assist in the ongoing Yang Yo!. in Munich 28 May to 2 June 2010.