 |
|
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Media Violence: TV, Music and Print
It’s summer time - but where are the children?
They’re not in the park; they are not riding bikes around the neighborhood, and they are not running under the sprinklers in backyards.
So, where are they?
Most of today’s entertainment for children comes readily available with a power cord and with messages that parents and community members would rather children not learn. Although Internet and video game violence has received much attention and scrutiny lately, more traditional media forms such as print, music and television are still consumed in powerful quantities.
CYFERnet has many resources available to help professionals and parents understand the power of the media as a societal influence; to help facilitate discussion between adults and children about the messages children see and hear; and to help create programs that reduce children’s exposure to media violence. Below are links to many of the resources available on CYFERnet that may be helpful to you.
Power of the media as a societal influence
Growing Up in a Socially Toxic Environment 
Language: English
Author: Garbarino, James
Publisher: CYFERnet (May 2005)
Description: Webcast of a keynote presentation of James Gabarino’s research on youth development living in today's socially toxic environment as presented at the CSREES-CYFAR Conference in 2005.
For Other Hot Topics, check here.
Children and Media Violence
Publisher: National Institute on Media and the Family (2000)
Description: A fact sheet on the effects of media violence on children.
What Goes In Must Come Out: Children's Media Violence Consumption at Home and Aggressive Behaviors at School
Author: Buchanan, Audrey; Douglas A. Gentile, Ph.D; David A. Nelson, Ph.D.; David A. Walsh, Ph.D., et al.
Publisher: The National Institute on Media and the Family (August, 2002)
Description: This Web page is a paper presented at the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development Conference, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It describes research about children and exposure to media violence, particularly the relationship between relational aggression and media violence.
Virtual Violence (PDF)
Author: Durosimni, Brenda
Publisher: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (1997)
Description: A fact sheet for parents about violence on television and the internet and in video games, music, music videos, and movies.
Youth Violence and the Media
Author: Surette, Ray
Publisher: The World & I, The Washington Times (1994)
Description: An article about the role of the media in promoting violence among youth and in society.
National Institute on Media and the Family Children Who Play Violent Video Games Are More Aggressive
Publisher: National Institute on Media and the Family
Description: This article describes the effects that violent video games have on children. The research presented shows that Video Game Exposure Makes Less Aggressive Kids More Likely to Fight than Aggressive Children who Don't Play Violent Video Games.
Some Things You Should Know About Media Violence and Media Literacy
Description: This article briefly summarizes information about media violence and children.
Childhood Exposure to Media Violence Predicts Young Adult Aggressive Behavior, According to a New 15-year Study
Publisher: American Psychological Association (March 9, 2003)
Description: This press release from the American Psychological Association describes the findings of a 15-year study on aggression and childhood media exposure. The study found that children's viewing of violent TV shows, their identification with aggressive same-sex TV characters, and their perceptions that TV violence is realistic are all linked to later aggression as young adults, for both males and females.
Media and Children: Choosing TV Programs, Movies, Videos, and DVDs
Language: English
Author: Ebata, Aaron
Publisher: Unviersity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Description: This article provides information on TV ratings and links to information and advice for parents on children and media.
When Children Witness Violence (PDF)
Language: English
Author: Durosimni, Brenda
Publisher: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (1997)
Description: A fact sheet about how witnessing violence affects children and youth. (Also available in Spanish)
Impact of Televised Violence
Language: English
Author: Murray, John
Description: This article covers several decades of research on the impact of television violence and provides a summary of the research. This is a reprint of an article in the Hofstra Law Review, 1994.
Helping children and youth understand and cope with what they see and hear
Getting Along: Taming the TV
Author: Oesterreich, Lesia
Description: This fact sheet discusses the effects of television viewing on preschool-age children. The author gives parents suggestions for using TV wisely with young children. (also available in PDF)
How Television Viewing Affects Children
Author: Harvey, Jane
Publisher: University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Description: This fact sheet describes the various ways in which watching television affects childen. Physical, social and emotional effects are considered along with tips for parents.
War on TV: How Much is Too Much?
Publisher: North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension
Description: This fact sheet provides guidelines to help keep media exposure balanced in the household.
Supporting Children During Armed Conflict and Its Aftermath (PDF)
Author: Koger, Dawn
Publisher: Family & Consumer Sciences, Michigan State University Extension (May, 2003)
Description: In times of war or national crisis, extensive and graphic media coverage of current events can be particularly disturbing for young children. While all children are different, thoughts and images about violence, war and destruction often foster feelings of anxiety, confusion, uncertainty and fear. This article will help parents support children during these trying times.
Helping Children Cope with Terror
Author: Pitzer, Ronald
Publisher: University of Minnesota Extension Services (2002)
Description: The University of Minnesota's Extension Services has provided this short informative piece for parents to help their children cope with terror. It is important for parents to help their children recognize what forms of terror they may see on television, in the media, or have overheard others talking about. Talking about terrorist acts and disasters with your children may help calm their fears and makes them feel safer.
Helping Young Children Deal with Violence in the News
Author: Levin, Diane
Publisher: NAEYC (2003)
Description: This brief article offers suggestions on how to talk with children about violent stories they may have seen in the news. This article is adapted from "Teaching Young Children in Violent Times: Building a Peaceable Classroom (2nd Edition)" by Diane E. Levin - co-published by NAEYC and Educators for Social Responsibility.
Reducing children’s exposure to media violence
What Works: Programs that May Influence Watching Television
Publisher: Child Trends (2003)
Description: Child Trends summarizes the best available program evaluations to determine what works, what doesn't work and what are some "best bets" (or promising practices) for youth with respect to television watching among youth. Civic Engagement programs are included in these tables.
Media and Children: Taming Television
Language: English
Author: Ebata, Aaron; Katherine Branscomb
Publisher: Unviersity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Description: This fact sheet provides suggestions on what parents can do if they are worried about their children's TV habits and how too much television viewing might be harmful to them.
Using TV Sensibly (PDF)
Language: English
Author: Murray, John; Barbara Lonnborg
Publisher: Kansas State University Extension (2004)
Description: This fact sheet provides parents with suggested ways to manage their children's television viewing.
Getting Along: Taming the TV
Language: English
Author: Oesterreich, Lesia
Description: This fact sheet discusses the effects of television viewing on preschool-age children. The author gives parents suggestions for using TV wisely with young children.
Campaign to Reduce Media Violence
Publisher: American Medical Association (2002)
Description: This article describes a young girl who has protested against violent video games in her hometown and spoken before congress. This website also provides links to other websites with information on media violence.
Marketing Violent Entertainment to Children: A Review of Self-Regulation and Industry Practices in the Motion Picture, Music Recording, and Electronic Game Industries (PDF)
Publisher: Federal Trade Commission (September 2000)
Description: This report discusses the effects of violence in our media on children and also the marketing of these violent programs to children.
Your Child and Violent Media
Author: Futris, Ted; Urvia McDowell
Publisher: Ohio State University Extension (2001)
Description: This is a fact sheet on violence in the media and the effects it has on children. It provides many examples for what parents can do to reduce violent media exposures in the household.
Media Violence in Children
Publisher: National Association for Education of Young Children (1994)
Description: National Association for Education of Young Chidren (NAEYC) position on protecting our children from violent programming, television, movies, media etc. It is the responsibility of the parents and public policy officials to protect children from such violence.
See previous Hot Topics for internet safety and media violence
