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| Vol. 24: This Issue |
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Ninth Annual
Video Game Report Card Released in Washington, DC
Institute President David Walsh, Ph.D., joined by Senator
Joe Lieberman and Congresswoman Betty McCollum, released
the Ninth Annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card in
Washington, DC just before Thanksgiving, 2004. This
year’s MediaWise Video Game Report Card focuses
on the mixed messages the video game industry sends
to parents.
“The double messages sent to parents about video
games are double trouble,” said Dr. Walsh. “For
instance, the video game industry says parents should
use the ratings, but denies violent video games affect
children. The result is parents are lead to believe
the ratings don’t really matter.”
“This contradictory message is a big problem for
parents when you consider this year’s crop of games,
such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Leisure Suit
Larry, are accessible to children, and they drastically
push the envelope on sex and violence.”
Dr. Walsh also called attention to the results of this
year’s secret shopper survey. Last year, the Interactive
Entertainment Merchants Association announced that,
by this shopping season, they would enforce policies
restricting youth access to M-rated video games without
parental permission. However, the Institute’s secret
shopper survey found that boys as young as seven were
able to buy M-rated games 50 percent of the time, whereas
girls were only able to purchase games 8 percent of
the time.
“The double message to parents of young children
from video game retailers is we will enforce the ratings,
but only for your daughters, not your sons,” said
Dr. Walsh.
 Other
areas of special concern in the Ninth Annual MediaWise
Video Game Report Card include: adolescent brain development;
video games and the childhood obesity epidemic; and
the need for the ESRB to improve its “OK to Play”
education campaign. Similar to previous years, the Annual
MediaWise Video Game Report Card also provides parents
a list of recommended video games and games to avoid. |
Pediatricians
See Media Use Linked to
Serious Public Health Issues
On November 1, 2004 the National Institute on
Media and the Family released a new study that
shows most pediatricians believe excess media
use negatively affects children in many different
areas, including aggressive behavior, poor eating
habits, decreased physical activity, a greater
risk for obesity, and poor academic achievement.
The study also finds that most pediatricians are
familiar with and agree with the three major recommendations
from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
on children’s media use. Pediatricians do
provide all three recommendations to parents at
least sometimes, and most pediatricians reported
that their efforts were at least a little effective,
although they cite lack of parent support for
the recommendations as the largest barrier they
face.
The three major AAP recommendations on children’s
media use are: 1. Parents should discourage television
viewing for children under two years old and should
encourage more interactive activities that promote
proper brain development; 2. Parents should limit
children’s media time to no more than one
to two hours of quality programming per day for
older children; and 3. Parents should
monitor programming; view with their children
and adolescents; and encourage alternative forms
of entertainment.
“This study shows that pediatricians understand
the power of the media to affect children’s
development, and that paying attention to how
much and what types of media children use can
have life-long consequences”, said Douglas
Gentile, Ph.D., director of research for the National
Institute on Media and the Family, psychology
professor at Iowa State University, and the study’s
lead author. |
Watch
for the New MediaWise PSA!
The National Institute on Media and the Family
is very grateful to Martin|Williams, a Minneapolis-based
advertising firm, for their contribution to MediaWise
. Martin|William produced a public service announcement
that was released in conjunction with the Ninth
Annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card on November
23, 2004. To help parents get the right message
about video games, the new MediaWise public service
announcement encourages parents to “Watch
What their Kids Watch.” The public service
announcement also directs parents to the National
Institute on Media and the Family’s Web site,
www.mediafamily.org.
The site provides parents with important information
about the media and helps them make MediaWise
choices for kids. |
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 Dr.
Walsh is shown below in Woodbury, Minnesota,
where he spoke to several hundred parents
about changes in teens’ brains and how
to use this information to understand, communicate
with, and stay connected to their kids. Dr.
Walsh’s latest workshops are based upon
WHY Do They Act That Way?
To schedule a workshop, please contact Gwen
Aaberg of the National Institute on Media
and the Family at 1-888-672-5437 or 612-672-5437.
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WHY
Do They Act That Way? Update
 Dr.
Walsh’s latest book, WHY Do They Act
That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent
Brain for You and Your Teen (Free Press,
2004) is among the top five 2004 “Editors’
Picks” for parenting and families on Amazon.com.
Now in its eighth printing, WHY Do They Act
That Way? has also appeared in the Star
Tribune’s nonfiction bestsellers list.
Dr. Walsh first previewed WHY Do They Act
That Way? in August on CBS’s The Early
Show. He also appeared on The Jane Pauley Show
in October, serving as Jane’s guest expert
throughout the hour-long program entitled “What
Parents Need to Know.”
For more information about WHY Do They Act
That Way?, please visit TeenWiseParents. |
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Media Myths
Media Myth #2: Media violence affects everyone
the same way
The Truth: Media violence has many scientifically
documented effects
The Evidence: Although more than 14 different
types of effects have been documented with children
and adults, they can be reduced to four broad effects.
They have been called the:
- Aggressor Effect: Watching a lot of violent
entertainment media causes increased meanness, aggression,
and even violence toward others.
- Victim Effect: Watching a lot of violent
entertainment causes increased fearfulness, mistrust,
and self-protective behavior.
- Bystander Effect: Watching a lot of violent
entertainment causes increased desensitization,
callousness, and apathy toward victims of aggression
- Appetite Effect: Watching a lot of violent
entertainment causes increased self-initiated behaviors
to see more violent material
The health-care and scientific communities have stated
that the evidence is clear that media violence has real
effects. That is no longer the question. The question
now is in what way will any given individual be affected?
The four effects above show that media violence can
have many different effects. |
MediaWise
Speaker Spotlight:
Michael Mann
 Michael
Mann is an award-winning storyteller, bringing a variety
of educational programs and workshops to children
and adults in schools, churches, libraries, educational
conferences, and corporate settings throughout the
upper Midwest. Mike originally became involved in
the National Institute on Media and the Family as
a media rater for the MediaWise KidScore® program
and has been an active advocate of the Institute's
mission since 1997.
Mike's extensive storytelling experience creates an
engaging environment for adults and children on subjects
ranging from creative writing and storytelling to
the MediaWise program. Mike performs before more than
15,000 children and adults each year, and has appeared
on Channel 9's Good Morning Minnesota and KARE 11.
He also participated in the panel discussion involving
parents and educators led by Dr. David Walsh on TPT2
after the 9/11 attacks.
Mike and his wife, Vicki, live in Minneapolis and
have four children, Jennifer, Laura, John, and Tim,
and a grandson, Jackson.
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Concerned about how media violence and disrespect affects
your family?
What:
Support the important work of the National Institute
on Media and the Family.
Why: Kids
need your help. The Institute is a nonprofit organization.
Your gift helps us help parents and educators help children.
How: Send
your tax-deductable gift to:
National Institute
on Media and the Family
Riverside Professional Building
606 24th Ave. South, Suite 606
Minneapolis, MN 55454-1438
Who: YOU
can make a difference for our children.
Also:
How you
can help.
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