The National Institute on Media and the Family

"Affirming our children's right to media that nurtures their health and well-being."

Founded by David Walsh, Ph.D. in 1996, the National Institute on Media and the Family, the leading organization examining the impact of electronic media on families, has worked tirelessly to help parents and communities watch what our kids watch. Follow these links to learn more about who we are and how you can become part of the MediaWise movement. The National Institute on Media and the Family is the world's leading and most respected research-based organization on the positive and harmful effects of media on children and youth. The National Institute on Media and the Family is an independent, nonpartisan, nonsectarian, and nonprofit organization that is based on research, education, and advocacy. Its MediaWise® movement is being adopted in communities throughout the country to help families make wiser media choices and encourage parents to “Watch What their Kids Watch.” . Our mission is to maximize the benefits and minimize the harm of media on children and families through research, education, and advocacy. Our vision is to build healthy families and communities through the wise use of media. We do not advocate censorship of any kind. We are committed to partnering with parents and other caregivers, organizations, and corporations in using the power of the free market to create healthier media choices for families, so that we have healthier, less violent communities. We seek to educate and inform the public, and to encourage practices and policies that promote positive change in the production and use of mass media. Founded by psychologist David Walsh, Ph.D. in 1996, the Institute is a nonprofit, national resource center for research, information, and education about the impact of the media on children and families. MediaWise provides information about the impact of media on children, and gives people who care about children the resources they need to make informed choices. MediaWise is a initiative of the National Institute on Media and the Family, a non-profit organization. Our Staff:   Dr. David Walsh   Douglas A. Gentile, Ph.D.   Gwen Aaberg   Laurie Wright   Our Board of Directors   Awards for our Web site   2004 Annual Report - (PDF)   FAQ's about the Institute   Help Us   Would you like an Institute staff member to speak to your organization? Fill out our online request form. Many of our reports are in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). If you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can get it free here.