small screen News Digest of Australian Council on Children and the Media (incorporating Young Media Australia) ISSN: 0817-8224 No. 272 February 2011 Conference report: Scared, Sleepless lighted the impact of fear producing media and Hostile The conference was both informative and rel- on children. For instance a child’s interpre- An impressive cross-section of the stake- evant for people such as parents, teachers and tation of reported news events is different to holders interested in the impacts of researchers interested in the wellbeing of chil- that of adults and, multiple reporting, of say a violent and scary media on children’s men- dren and youth. The conference content was natural disaster, may be perceived as a series tal health and associated public policy con- varied yet cohesive and accessible to a wide of occurrences. Children see things differently siderations met in Sydney on March 1. audience. A key message I took away was that from adults. the increasing penetration into our lives by Those attending included children’s health, the media leaves children in particular, vul- Dr Sarah Blunden’s health oriented perspec- welfare and education professionals, nerable to any influences it chooses to exert, tive revealed the negative impact of late night industry associations, regulators and clas- and that many of these influences are detri- TV viewing on children’s sleep. Teenagers are sifiers, policy makers, community organi- mental to individual and societal wellbeing. the most sleep deprived group in our commu- zations, academics and students, and most nity and insufficient sleep impacts on brain gave glowing feedback about the worth of Professor John Murray presented a neuro- development. the day, the debate and discussions. logically based context for the theme of the conference when he spoke about the effects of Richard Eckersley’s approach took the focus The conference was most ably and amiably TV violence on children’s brain activity and off the individual and highlighted how the chaired by Prof Alan Hayes, Director of how exposure to TV violence strongly acti- media occupies a powerful position within the Australian Institute of Family Studies. vates the emotional centers of the brain while society, and that individuals are mostly un- The opening speech, which set the confer- it under-activates areas of executive function. able to divest themselves from its influence. ence in the context of Australian children’s This results in poor reasoning about the con- He recommended that communities and gov- health and wellbeing, was delivered by sequences of violent acts. ernments stand together and insist on greater Dr Lance Emerson regulation of me- CEO of the Austral- dia as a matter of ian Research Alli- urgency. ance on Children and Youth. Last but not least Professor The mix of over- Elizabeth Hand- seas and Australian sley presented speakers provided arguments from world class over- a legal perspec- views of the risks tive. She sup- to children’s men- ports the idea tal health posed by that public pol- ongoing exposure icy makers need to violent and scary to respond to media. The whole The speakers at the conference from left: Wayne Warburton, Douglas Gentile, Richard Eckersley, issues involving John Murray, Sarah Blunden, Ed Donnerstein and Elizabeth Handsley. program made a the negative im- significant contribu- Dr Douglas Gentile’s absorbing presentation pact of media on children through legislation. tion to issues relevant to Australia’s present revealed the need for improved evidence-based reviews of its classification systems. The classification systems for children’s media. It Notwithstanding a rich variety of relevant sponsorship of the conference by the Min- concluded that these systems need to become detail and the broad scope of presentation ister for Home Affairs, was well justified more protective for children and better able to content, by conference end a single, powerful and most welcome. guide parental choice. message was clear: when it comes to children and media consumption the time is ripe for a ACCM asked one of the post graduate stu- The audience was very engaged by Professor radical rethink. In a best-scenario outcome this dent attendees to give her impressions of Ed Donnerstein who vigorously supported the will effect change in national policies relating the conference. Simone Mohi, a psychol- weight of evidence about the impact of media to children’s media consumption and flow on ogy honours student at Macquarie Univer- violence, and described how exposure repre- to greater societal awareness and more en- sity) had this to say: sents significant risks to child and adolescent lightened parenting and education practices. “As a recent graduate I relished the opportu- health and, particularly at young ages, how nity to attend my first ever conference. Leading this can have lifelong consequences. I think I speak for most of the delegates when I say that the conference was an exceptional Australian and international speakers present- Dr Wayne Warburton’s compelling presen- experience and one that I look forward to ed their latest research findings on the effects tation ‘Not the Six o’clock News: Children repeating next year. “ of today’s media environment on children and and violent or upsetting media content’, high youth. EDITORIAL NEW CHILDREN & MEDIA BLOG CONFERENCE REPORT: SIGNING UP FOR R18+ SCARED, SLEEPLESS & HOSTILE IN REGIONAL AUSTRALIA? DISNEY FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE? small screen February 2011 p2 EDITORIAL Signing up for R18+ in regional Australia ??? So far since 28 January, the same story (only the faces and stats The R18+ games lobby has been running a PR change) has been run in Port no. 272 February 2011 campaign that seemingly has no end. Macquarie , Rouse Hill, Tuggerah, Erina , Tweed City, Mt Druitt, small screen Much of it has misled many well meaning people Editor: Barbara Biggins OAM Plumpton, St Marys, Castle Hill, Compiler: Caroline Donald (who are rightly disturbed about children’s access Cannington, Forrest Chase, Grafton, Barbara Biggins Editorial Board: Barbara Biggins, to very violent computer games) by telling them Wendoureeh, Melton, Macarthur, OAM Hon CEO Jane Roberts, Judy Bundy, that having an R18+ category for would somehow Camberwell, Knox, and Frankston, Elizabeth Handsley. provide better protection for children. This was and still they come. small screen is published at the far from the truth, because the proposal under beginning of each month and discussion would merely have legalised R18+ Petition organiser and Pal Gaming Network reports on the events of the level games (with more extreme content). Director Roland Kulen is quoted in almost every previous month 11 issues per story, expressing his frustration that there was as year (Dec/Jan double issue) The only way children will be better protected is if yet no R18+ classification, saying how much it Published by the classification guidelines for all levels of games would help parents, and what a bad thing it was Australian Council on are completely revised, and take more account of that Australia was the only developed country Children and the Media the evidence from from exposure to violent and with no R18+ for games. (ACCM) other extreme materials. Perhaps that will be the PO Box 447 outcome when the Ministers responsible have So who funds this misleading propaganda Glenelg 5045 finished their consideration of a new set of draft South Australia campaign? Are regional papers supporting it? Or [email protected] guidelines, and this may be in July. do they never read each others’ papers?? www.youngmedia.org.au Tel: +61 8 8376 2111 In the interim, we have noticed a continuous series How about regional NSW and Victorian papers put Fax: +61 8 8376 2122 of similar articles in regional papers in NSW and their weight behind a public education campaign Helpline: 1800 700 357 Victoria, all telling the same story- that people that helps parents understand the meaning of ACCM is a national, non-profit are signing petitions because they want an R18+ the classification system (and in particular that community organisation. classification, and one regional town after another MA15+ has legal force and means not suitable for Its mission is to promote a has gathered among the highest numbers of those under 15 years), and the risks of harm from quality media environment for signatures supporting this. All accompanied by a repetitive playing of violent games. Australian children. photo of the local friendly game store manager. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the Editor. NEW! ARACY children and media blog that sexualises children. The program in use in ACT schools is called Every Chance to Learn. Contributions are welcome. The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) has launched a new http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/ children and media blog where interested people local/news/general/students-learn-about- can share resources and articles, talk about sexualisation/2080178.aspx their experiences and participate in informal ACCM’s services are dialogue. supported by a grant from the Leanne Drewitt who oversees ARACY’s Young New book South Australian Children and the Media project is interested in Government using the blog to explore the effects of media Globesity Food on young children; what type of content is Marketing and developmentally appropriate for children; how Family Lifestyles we can provide parents with resources and tools to help them make informed choices about ACCM’s Web Page and media; how to monitor and limit children’s Broadband access exposure to inappropriate media; and how we Steve Kline are supported by its can encourage the media industry to understand Internet Service Provider how important it is to think of the developmental Palgrave Macmillan UK needs of children they are targeting. Internode To participate, go to: http://www.aracy.org.