small screen News Digest of Australian Council on Children and the Media (incorporating Young Media Australia) ISSN: 0817-8224 SCAG, R18+ and R Cat1 pubs No. 252 April 2009 “It was strongly endorsed at the 2020 sum- • greater distances, including family re- mit, we received very popular support for Confused? The acronyms mean that the lationships within separated families. the proposal there. April 17 Canberra meeting of the Standing Most children were aware of mobile phone Committee of Attorneys General (SCAG) “Now we are very, very pleased that the go bullying but the actual incidence of bully- acting as the Ministers responsible for ahead has come from the Government.” ing seemed surprisingly low in this sample. Censorship (most of whom, but not all, are However the authors acknowledged that state AGs), has among other things: problems created by the technology are http://www.abc.net.au/news/sto - likely to increase, stating that ries/2009/04/22/2549866.htm • noted that the Federal Government intends to release a discussion paper With technologies such as Bluetooth, and In a letter to The Age Green Guide, ACCM soon on whether there should be an with closer integration of mobiles with the CEO Barbara Biggins expressed a slightly R18+ classification for computer internet, the positive control children and less positive view, pointing out that games, and young people have experienced through hav- • considered proposals to improve ing their own mobile may face new and great- ...it is by no means clear that sufficient compliance with the National Classi- er challenges in the immediate future. (P12) funding will be made available so that con- fication Scheme for offensive publica- tent is created by those who really know and tions and films and asked officers to The full report can be found at care about children, and is solely for their develop detailed proposals for reform http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/uploads/doc- enjoyment and benefit. We don’t need an- in this area uments/ATC_MobileMe1.pdf other channel that provides more outlets for commercialized and toy-linked programs. The latter item relates to complaints that Meanwhile the New South Wales Govern- have been lodged by founder and Direc- ment has launched a campaign to warn She stated that it appeared that little re- tor of Kids Free2bKids, Julie Gale, in rela- parents and children about the dangers search had been done on the impact of tion to the ready availability of supposedly of sending suggestive or sexual images on such a channel on family viewing patterns, classified R Cat1 publications featuring mobile phones. A fact sheet on this topic and that models who look like underage teen girls. will be distributed through NSW schools. ...it is not in children’s interests for be ban- Details can be found on the government ished to their bedrooms to watch their pro- The discussion paper on R18+ games has website at grams, while parents watch theirs elsewhere? been long expected, with the industry http://www.nsw.gov.au/InfoItemView. and many gamers claiming that 91% of asp?id=5A8BBD7D-1004-4F87-9844- The ACCM view therefore remains that Australians think there should be such a 4C6F39227EB4 unless the government remains committed classification for games. to child-friendly viewing on all channels at Children’s Channel the times when children are most likely to Mobile phones be watching, we are likely to see a dramatic A designated children’s channel now ap- dilution of such content and children will be Whether we like it or not mobile phones pears to be a certainty. In their response to the nett losers. are becoming a greater part of children’s the 2020 Summit, the federal Government lives at younger and younger ages. states: The NSW Commission for Children and The Government is committed to supporting Young People recently conducted a sur- a dedicated ABC Children’s Channel. This vey of 1500 children in years 6 and 9 will give all Australian children ready access New ACMA website about how mobile phones fit into their to advertising-free, child-appropriate content lives. They found that over 60% of chil- to support the development of our children, as dren in this age group had phones and discussed at the Summit. (P193) that the percentage was increasing rapidly. Digital media ABC managing director Mark Scott claimed Overall mobile phones were seen as that the decision will ensure future genera- literacy • helping children and parents manage tions can continue to hear and see Austral- the complexities of modern life ian stories on children’s television. • supporting the well-being of young +++“We are very pleased that despite these http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/ people by giving them independence tough financial times, delivering a dedicated STANDARD/pc=PC_311474 and agency in their lives children’s television channel for the ABC • helping children and young people to has been seen to be a priority for the Govern- maintain stronger relationships across ment,” he said. R18+ GAMES CHILDREN’S CHANNEL HASBRO INFOMERCIALS MOBILE PHONES TV VIOLENCE FEARS ADS IN C TIME small screen April 2009 p2 EDITORIAL Ads in C time children on seeing it wouldn’t actually know what it’s for. no. 252 April 2009 Professor Elizabeth Handsley The ad would attract children Vice-president ACCM to the brand without them small screen knowing anything at all about Editor: Barbara Biggins OAM One of the key concerns during the recent review the product - but you can Compiler: Caroline Donald of the Children’s Television Standards has been bet what happens next time Editorial Board: Barbara Biggins, that the advertising restrictions there apply only they’re walking down Main Jane Roberts, Judy Bundy, to ‘C’ programs, or those special, high-quality St in their town and they see Elizabeth Handsley. children’s programs that broadcasters have to the logo. The pressure would Elizabeth Handsley small screen is published at the show for a certain amount of time each year. be on to go in to a place where beginning of each month and the children’s menu is dominated by fried foods reports on the events of the As we all know, only a tiny proportion - not exactly the kind of place you would take previous month 11 issues per of children’s television viewing goes on your children if you wanted to encourage healthy year (Dec/Jan double issue) at those times. At the times when they choices. (Vegetables are available as side dishes Published by do most of their watching, advertising is for nearly half as much again as the meals cost.) Australian Council on regulated only to a standard to suit adults. Children and the Media The CTS does nothing at all about such insidious (ACCM) Yet recent experience suggests that we methods of creating demand for unhealthy food. PO Box 447 should be concerned also with the ads that Glenelg 5045 It is also worth noting how the ad crams in South Australia are actually allowed to be shown during [email protected] C Programs. One that has been on high maximum ‘physical activity’ so it can never be www.youngmedia.org.au rotation recently provides an illustration of argued that it breaches any provisions about Tel: +61 8 8376 2111 the limitations of the restrictions in the CTS. promoting unhealthy lifestyles. But it still has to Fax: +61 8 8376 2122 link that activity to glamour and consumption. Helpline: 1800 700 357 The ad is for a chain of steakhouses and consists ACCM is a national, non-profit of some dozens of scantily-clad cheerleader types As previously noted, the ad is on maximum community organisation. (what little they are wearing is hot pink and white) rotation during C times. On recent occasions Its mission is to promote a doing cheerleader-type dances against a white when I’ve watched a bit of C with my children quality media environment for background, with a person out the front in a hot it’s screened twice every half hour without fail. Australian children. pink animal costume, also doing the dances plus No part of this publication some extra acrobatics. Every so often the dancers These elements of the advertisement provide may be reproduced without yell out what appears to be the name of the mascot yet another reason to have ban on food permission of the Editor. character. There is a large logo behind them. advertising generally and not split hairs about Contributions are welcome. what is nutritious, what is ‘junk’ and so on. In other words the ad is just for the brand, not for the food that is served - so a lot of young ACCM’s services are supported by grants from the Yo Gabba Gabba: An Australian view If you could call a presenter “patronising” to two- South Australian year olds, then DJ Lance Rock fits this criteria. Government This US children’s show has attracted both positive There is entertaining pantomine, and then there and negative reviews, including a critical group of is “Yo Gabba Gabba!”. The easy and moralistic mothers on Facebook. With the stage show about to songs are lacking in interest and production visit Australia, we asked one of our media reviewers and are more likely to drive the more discerning who is also the mother of two young children to look parent to irritability and frustration leading at it from an Australian point of view ACCM’s Web Page and to reduced repetition in the home or car. The Broadband access costuming and all over quality is poor and not at are supported by its There are a number of commendable concepts all interactive for young viewers.