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. au/blog/blog-children-media/?p=75 Exploring children’s special status as ‘vulnerable’ consumers, this book provides Publication and ACT students learn to resist sexualisation According to Noel Towell, writing in the new evidence of both the systemic bias created printing of small screen Canberra Times, school children in the ACT are by food marketing in the USA and the UK, as is supported by a being taught how to resist being sexualised by well as the processes through which marketing donation from the media. comes to influence children’s discretionary choices in the context of branding and parental Children’s Minster Joy Burch. told the mitigation of lifestyle risk taking. Legislative Assembly that children from preschool to Year 10 were involved in a http://www.palgravemacmillan.com.au curricular activity that taught them to critically examine media content, including material ‘n’ Cuts small screen no. 272 February 2011 small screen February 2011 p4 small screen February 2011 p5 small screen February 2011 p6 small screen February 2011 p7 NEW PUBLICATIONS

ADVERTISING EDUCATION Tandon, PS; et al (2011) Thomson, DM (2010) Meloncon, L; et al (2010) Preschoolers’ total daily screen time at Marshmallow power and frooty Building a playground: General home and by type of child care. treasures: Disciplining the child guidelines for creating educational Web Journal of Pediatrics, Vol. 158, No. 2, Pp297- consumer through online cereal sites for children. 300 advergaming. Technical Communication, Vol. 57, No. 4, Critical Studies in Media Communication, Pp398-415 MOBILE PHONES Vol. 27, No. 5, Pp438-454 Mendelsohn, AL; et al(2010) Thomas, S; Benke, G; et al (2010) Use of mobile phones and changes in Carter, O; et al (2010) Do verbal interactions with infants cognitive function in adolescents. Three-quarters of Australian children during electronic media exposure Occupational and Environmental Medicine, recognise Bundy R. Bear: Alcohol mitigate adverse impacts on their Vol. 67, No. 12, Pp861-866 advertising restrictions are not working. language development as toddlers? Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Infant and Child Development, Vol. 19, No. Walsh, SP; White, KM; Young, RM (2010) Health, Vol. 34, No. 6, Pp635-636 6, Sp. Iss. Pp577-593 Needing to connect: The effect of self and others on young people’s Elkin, L; Thomson, G; Wilson, N (2010) Fenstermacher, SK; et al (2010) involvement with their mobile phones. Connecting world youth with tobacco Interactional quality depicted in infant Australian Journal of Psychology, Vol. 62, brands YouTube and the Internet policy and toddler videos: Where are the No. 4, Pp194-203 vacuum on Web 2.0. interactions? Tobacco Control, Vol. 19, No. 5, Pp361-366 Infant and Child Development, Vol. 19, No. Bond, Emma (2010) 6, Pp594-612 Managing mobile relationships: Fenstermacher, SK; Barr, R; et al (2010) Children’s perceptions of the impact of Infant-directed media: An analysis of Tomopoulos, S; et al (2010) the mobile phone on relationships in product information and claims. Infant media exposure and toddler their everyday lives. Infant and Child Development, Vol. 19, No. development. Childhood-A Global Journal of Child 6, Sp.Iss. Pp557-576 Arch. of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Research, Vol. 17, No. 4, Pp514-529 Vol. 164, No. 12, Pp1105-1111 Scottish Parliament, Equal Opportunities VIDEO GAMES Committee Report (2010) Green, CS; Li, RJ; Bavelier, D (2010) External research on sexualised goods MEDIA EFFECTS - HEALTH Perceptual learning during action video aimed at children. Salmon, Jo (2010) game playing. www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/ Novel strategies to promote children’s Topics in Cognitive Science, Vol. 2, No. 2, equal/reports-10/eor10-02.htm physical activities and reduce sedentary Pp202-216 behavior. Hebden, L; et al (2010) Journal of Physical Activity & Health, Vol. 7, Han, DH; et al (2010) Industry self-regulation of food Suppl. 3, Pp S299-S306 Changes in cue-induced, prefrontal marketing to children: Reading the fine cortex activity with video-game play. print. Moseley, KL; et al (2011) Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Vol. Which sources of child health advice do Networking, Vol. 13, No. 6, Pp655-661 21, No. 3, Pp229-235 parents follow? Clinical Pediatrics, Vol. 50, No. 1, Pp50-56 Beullens, K; et al (2011) Cousineau, TM; et al (2010) COMPUTERS & INTERNET Excellent gamer, excellent driver? The Parchin, JW (2010) impact of adolescents’ video game Teaching adolescents about changing Cyberbullying and self-esteem. playing on driving behavior: A two- bodies: Randomized controlled trial of Journal of School Health, Vol. 80, No. 12, wave panel study. an Internet puberty education and body Pp614-621 Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 43, dissatisfaction prevention program. No. 1, Pp58-65 Cousineau, TM; et al (2010) Body Image, Vol. 7, No. 4, Pp296-300 Teaching adolescents about changing bodies: Randomized controlled trial of MEDIA EFFECTS - SOCIAL an Internet puberty education and body ter Bogt, TFM; Engels, RCME; et al (2010) CONFERENCES dissatisfaction prevention program. “Shake it baby, shake it”: Media Body Image, Vol. 7, No. 4, Pp296-300 preferences, sexual attitudes and gender stereotypes among adolescents. Right to Childhood Dowdell, EB & Bradley, PK (2010) Sex Roles, Vol. 63, No. 11-12, Pp844-859 Risky Internet behaviors: A case study Examining the convergence of sex, of online and offline stalking. McCool, J; et al (2011) violence, the media, commerce & Journal of School Nursing, Vol. 26, No. 6, Do parents have any influence over how Pp436-442 young people appraise tobacco images popular culture, its impact on our in the media? children and what we can do about it Valkenburg, PM & Jochen P (2011) Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 48, No. 2, Online communication among Pp170-175 Friday 29 April, 2011 • 9am-5pm: adolescents: An integrated model of Wesley Conference Centre its attraction, opportunities, and risks. Consortium for Media Literacy (2011) Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 48, No. 2, Parents and media literacy. 220 Pitt Street, Sydney Pp121-127 Connect!ons, Vol. 24, Pp2-3 & 9-10 http://www.right2childhood.com.au/ Membership rates (renewable on July 1st each year) $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 KIDS’ TV

Disney from cradle to grave? New Director of Television and Digital A selection of children’s programs screened on TV during the period According to the US based Campaign for Content for Nickelodeon ABC 1 a Commercial Free Childhood (CCFC), On 1 February 2011, Nickelodeon Australia The Land Before Time; Pat And Stan; Disney is taking cradle-to-grave marketing announced that Hugh Baldwin has been Arthur; Zigby; Octonauts; Sesame Street; to a new low, branding babies literally at appointed to the new role of Director of Olivia; Franny’s Feet; Pingu; Play School birth. Television and Content Acquisitions for Backyard Science; Nanigugu; Fluffy Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand. Gardens; Word Girl; Classic Tales; Farm To promote its new Disney Baby line, the Kids; Best Ed; Eliot Kid; Naturally Sadie. company now sends marketing represent- According to Katrina Southon, SVP, ABC 2 atives to visit mothers and their newborn Managing Director, MTV Networks The WotWots; Peppa Pig; Olivia; Wibbly infants in maternity hospitals around USA. Australia & New Zealand: “Hugh is Pig; Timmy Time; Wiggly Waffle; Zoo Mix They talk up Disney Baby, give newborns a multi-talented executive...... His Nanigugu; Penelope; Microscopic Milton; a suit adorned with Disney characters, and new appointment is well-deserved Caillou; Lazy Lucy; Zigby; Octonauts; urge mothers to sign up for email alerts and highlights Nickelodeon’s focus on Guess With Jess; Hana’s Helpline; from DisneyBaby.com. serving content to kids across all platforms, Hilltop Hospital; LazyTown. with a complementary, holistic approach to ABC 3 CCFC is now running a campaign against programming.” Kid Vs Kat; M.I. High; ; this marketing, “working hard to convince BTN Extra; Michaela’s Wild Challenge; hospitals to reconsider their participation Baldwin has been with Nickelodeon Escape From Scorpion Island; On The in this exploitive marketing scheme--and Australia for four years, and is currently Edge; Letterbox; Backyard Science; to hold accountable those hospitals choos- completing his thesis for his PhD in Dani’s House; Spellbinder; Aisling’s ing a quick buck over the wellbeing of new Children’s Interactive Digital Television. Diary; CJ The DJ; Spliced! moms and babies”. SEVEN For further information, please contact: It’s Academic; DaVinchies; Zeke’s Pad; http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/ Vasinee Jordan, Communications Manager Master Raindrop; Handy Manny. actions/maternityhospitalmarketing.html Nickelodeon Australia NINE [email protected] Hi-5; Pyramid; Kids’ WB; Ben 10; G2G; New children’s channel for NZ. Dogstar; Dennis & Gnasher; The Shak. Positive gaming TEN TVNZ and SKY have partnered to launch Totally Wild; Bakugan; Wurrawhy; Scope; a 24 hour pre-school children’s channel on US researchers have found that playing H2O-Just add Water. the SKY platform from 1 May called TVNZ action video games significantly reduces NICKELODEON Kidzone24. subjects’ reaction times without sacrific- ing accuracy. This increase in speed is The Mighty B!; Fanboy and Chum Chum; The Penguins of Madagascar; Back at The channel will be advertising-free and observed across various tasks beyond the Barnyard; iCarly; Drake & Josh; Ni will aim to provide “educational and in- game situations. Video gaming may there- Hao, Kai Lan; Hi-5; ; Zoey spiring content for pre-school children”. fore provide an efficient training regimen to induce a general speeding of perceptual 101; ; Ruby Gloom; ; ; iCarly. The schedule for the new channel will be reaction times. DISNEY CHANNEL revealed in April. Dye, M.W.G et al (2009). Increasing speed Pair of Kings; Camp Rock 2; Good Luck Charlie; The Replacements; As the http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/ of processing with action video games. Bell Rings; I’m in the Band; Wizards of tvnz-launches-new-children-s-channel- Current Directions in Psychological Science, Waverly Place; Sonny with a Chance. 4042744 18(6). 321-326.