small screen News Digest of Australian Council on Children and the Media (incorporating Young Media Australia) ISSN: 0817-8224 No. 286 May 2012 Food advertising and marketing to Facing up to Facebook: What kids children: a step forward? other countries in attempting to implement are doing online and how to keep policies to reduce children’s exposure them safe A national seminar on food advertis- to food advertising. She stressed the ing and marketing to children co-host- importance of having a clear and agreed This is the subject of a seminar to be held ed by ANPHA and the South Austral- measure and definitions of children’s ex- in Adelaide by ACCM in partnership ian Department of Health was held in posure to advertising and marketing, and with Concordia College. It is to be held on Adelaide on Wednesday 9 May 2012. to which foods restrictions might apply, Thursday 23 August 2012 at 7.30pm at Participants attending the conference in- along with effective monitoring of such Concordia College Chapel, corner of Bal- cluded representatives from Common- exposure. Key industry groups should be moral and Cheltenham Streets, Highgate. wealth, State and Territory governments, engaged in the process. the food and beverage industry, the ad- The speaker will be well-known psycholo- vertising industry, public health advocates Dr Geoffrey Annison, Acting CEO of the gist and author Dr Michael Carr-Gregg. He (including ACCM) and academics. Food and Grocery Council provided an will discuss what the latest research says overview of current regulations, and stated kids are doing online and how to keep The seminar saw some interesting pres- AFGC’s commitment to further dialogue. them safe. The seminar includes everything entations including one from Dr Corinna However, it was evident from his address parents need to know about facebook and Hawkes (pictured below), an expert in that AFGC was supporting such moves be- other social networking sites, cyberbully- international food policy and marketing cause of public concern, and not because ing, internet addiction, filtering software unhealthy food to children, who presented they believed that there was reliable evi- and online games. on the various regulations and policies that dence that food advertising was impacting have been implemented internationally. on children’s overweight and obesity. The MC for the seminar will be Sonya Feld- hoff, the presenter of Afternoons 891 ABC The concluding panel discussion was Adelaide. revealing. The big issue and stumbling block will be the definition of exposure. Will Tickets are $27.50 with bookings online at it include only advertisements directed to http://www.trybooking.com/27195 children, or also advertisements that children see because they watch in large For further information: numbers during early evening prime Email: [email protected] time? Phone 08 8376 2111 http://www.childrenandmedia.org.au/ From the views expressed by the four in- dustry representatives on the panel, it seems that there will be strong resistance Too Much Too Soon: to including ads other than those shown Guiding your child through a Following the seminar a group of repre- within children’s programs. Panellist Lou- sexualised world sentatives discussed what actions could be ise Sylvan of the Australian National Pre- undertaken to reduce children’s exposure ventive Health Agency (ANPHA) made it Thursday 21 June 2012 to marketing of unhealthy food and bever- clear that her agency had been tasked by 7.30 pm, Immanuel College ages. It was agreed that a working group the federal government to monitor expo- 32 Morphett Road, Novar Gardens SA be formed to progress work with an aim to sure and if agreement was not reached, measure and reduce children’s exposure. ANPHA would set the definition itself. • Melinda Tankard Reist, author & director of Collective Shout, ACCM’s attendee at the conference, Bar- Jane Martin of the Obesity Coalition did • Dr Wayne Warburton child bara Biggins, writes: a sterling job of defending the right of psychologist & researcher, children to be effectively protected from Macquarie University “SA Health Minister John Hill opened the widespread advertising and marketing of • Lesley-Anne Ey, researcher proceedings outlining the rising preva- unhealthy foods, and the validity of the re- on sexualisation, University lence of preventable chronic disease in search that underpins this.” of South Australia Australia and the links between poor diet overweight and obesity and the fact that For a full report of the seminar see: Tickets $22.00 food consumption patterns often start in Bookings can be made online at infancy and childhood. http://anpha.gov.au/internet/anpha/pub- www.trybooking.com/BKFM lishing.nsf/Content/news-20120524 Dr Corinna Hawkes provided some impor- www.childrenandmedia.org.au tant key learnings from the experiences of FOOD ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL: AN M RATING NEW SEMINAR: FACING UP MARKETING TO CHILDREN FOR PROMETHIUS? TO FACEBOOK CYBERSAFETY SUMMIT VALE ELIZABETH MCDOWALL E-BOOKS: FOR OR AGAINST? small screen May 2012 p2 EDITORIAL An M rating for Prometheus ? Professor Handsley says ‘an M rating gives unrestricted access to no. 286 May 2012 The Australian Council on Children and the the viewing of this film in cinemas, Media (ACCM) is dismayed by the Classification with some anecdotal evidence small screen Review Board decision of June 4 to lower suggesting that children as young Editor: Barbara Biggins OAM the classification of the new release movie as 11 years old will attend this Compiler: Caroline Donald Prometheus. On 24 May the Classification Board movie with their peers, without Barbara Biggins OAM Editorial Board: Barbara Biggins, had determined that the film contained themes an adult accompanying them. Jane Roberts, Judy Bundy, Hon CEO and violence with strong impact and should be Because an M rating allows their Elizabeth Handsley. classified MA15+. children to do this, it is not sending small screen is published at the a strong enough message to parents about the beginning of each month and Prof. Elizabeth Handsley, President of ACCM, need many children will have for adult support reports on the events of the has cautioned parents about the movie saying and supervision. The classification system, in this previous month 11 issues per case, is letting our kids and parents down’. year (Dec/Jan double issue) ‘the Classification Review Board’s decision to Published by lower the classification from MA15+ to M is Australian Council on questionable in light of the child development- Dr Cupit, ACCM Vice-President and Senior Children and the Media based advice from our reviewer.’ Lecturer in child development at the University (ACCM) of South Australia, says ‘while not all under 15’s PO Box 447 The ACCM movie reviewer describes the film will be disturbed by the imagery, many will and Glenelg 5045 as including ‘some extended scenes of brutal while the immediate imagery and possible bad South Australia violence, as well as medical procedures of robot dreams will likely pass the longer term increased [email protected] doctors performing a Caesarian section on a anxiety or, perhaps worse, fascination is a matter www.youngmedia.org.au woman impregnated with an alien. This movie is of considerable concern’. Tel: +61 8 8376 2111 not suitable for children under the age of 15, with Fax: +61 8 8376 2122 A full review of the movie is available via the Helpline: 1800 700 357 older children still possibly finding the intensity of the movie overwhelming’. ACCM Know Before You Go service, ACCM is a national, non-profit http://www.childrenandmedia.org.au/ community organisation. Professor Handsley comments, ‘Parents should mediachildren/07_04_choose_films.htm Its mission is to promote a be questioning whether such scenes are really where over 660 movie reviews can be found to quality media environment for help parents choose appropriate and enjoyable Australian children. only of “moderate” impact, the maximum allowed under the M classification, and whether movies for their children. No part of this publication the “science fiction” or “medical” context would may be reproduced without actually lessen the impact the scenes would have permission of the Editor. on their children.’ Contributions are welcome. Cybersafety Summit The Minister for Broadband, Communications KNOW WHO YOU ARE and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Small child speaking to Prime Minister - ACCM’s services are Conroy, opened the 2012 Cybersafety Summit “ I’m human - I’m not on TV”. supported by a grant for students, parents and teachers in Canberra Heard on ABC 7.30pm news, 11 May. from the on 12 June. South Australian Government Media personality and DJ Ruby Rose was invited to attend the Summit and to share her Vale personal experiences to help promote and Elizabeth McDowall encourage safe online behaviour. “Bullying is something we all need to be aware of. There is We regret to note the ACCM’s Web Page and no place for this in our lives, especially in our death of Mrs. Elizabeth Broadband access schools. Given my personal experiences, any McDowall. She was the are supported by its way I can help put a stop to bullying and cyber- Distribution and Pro- Internet Service Provider bullying I will” she said. motions Officer for the then Australian Coun- Internode Members of the government’s Consultative cil for Children’s Films Working Group on Cybersafety, including and Television (now Facebook, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Council on the Australian Communications and Media Children and the Media) for over 20 years and was Authority and the Alannah and Madeline based in Melbourne. Publication and Foundation, were at the Summit to provide printing of small screen expert advice to participants. One of the most successful activities Elizabeth supported by a was involved with in the late 1970s was the In- donation from A separate Cybersafety Summit for primary ternational Film Carnival.