Archives for September 2008

Youth Riffs On HFCS Ads: Web 2.0 Satire Is Snowballing

What do ants and rubber tree plants have to do with syrupy HFCS ads and high hopes for the future of youth media mobilization? Stay with me after the jump to find out... Last week I wrote about my teen's incredulous response to the patronizing propaganda sugar-coating the airwaves about HFCS, high fructose corn syup… Then I followed up with the dietary … [Read more...]

P.A.C.K. Week (Pack Assorted Colors for Kids) is ReBranded

Hands up if you’ve heard that TODAY is “pack purple day” to load lunchboxes with fresh blueberries, grapes, raisins, etc.? Um, yah, I thought not. Last year the "5-a-day" folks (now More Matters) launched a fun lil' marketing gimmick called P.A.C.K. week to color-code fruits and veggies, in an effort to raise awareness and consumption at school. So why … [Read more...]

Sensationalist Slop: “Dear Media, Please Do Your Job…”

Further to this week's article on ‘what sells’ in sensationalized media coverage, need we remind kids that the same thing applies to our upcoming election season? As children try to make sense of this adult world of dirty laundry flinging, sound bites and reality show gymnastics, we need to help kids connect the dots with both election media literacy and grounded … [Read more...]

NCLI Act: Nature Crusaders Earn Environmental Education A Win!

Woohoo! We did it! Cue the wolf howl, folks! Eco-literacy just won Congressional approval as the NCLI Act passed with bipartisan support for environmental education in classrooms by a vote of 293 to 109 yesterday! We’re ‘not out of the woods’ yet, but at least we’ll still have woods to consider if we combat 'nature deficit disorder' and teach kids … [Read more...]

What Sells: Infants As Fashion Statements and Joke Props?

Nope, not a Halloween costume...Just "Heelarious" consumption for the Carrie Bradshaw wannabes. Gosh, THIS is what merits a booking on The Today Show? Twice? (video of other 'outrageous offerings' after the jump) Yeah, yeah, I know, ‘get a sense of humor’...Relax. I realize babies in stiletto crib booties are intended to make folks smile (Pet Rocks had … [Read more...]