Fighting Fire with Fire: How Would YOU Counter-Market Vaping?

June 19, 2019 As an ad industry creative director I’ve spent years using applied science to flip messages in healthier directions by tapping into the same tactics that marketers use to hook their audiences early and often. (Here’s how I use marketing tactics to sell 'reluctant readers' on reading for fun, or getting kids to 'eat green' by using Shrek against junk food drek … [Read more...]

Upstanding Is A Force Field! Feel The Anti-Bullying Gravitational Pull

Oct. 23, 2013 May the anti-bullying force be with you, upstanding digital citizens…The month of October, once known for autumn leaves, pumpkin patches and Halloween, is now sharing time with newly fabricated monikers of bullying officialdom like Digital Citizenship Week and National Bullying Prevention Month neither of which existed a scant few years ago.In fact, these six … [Read more...]

Ground Hog Day: Super Bowl Sexism Keeps Popping Up

Feb 2, 2013 It's Ground Hog Day and as reliable as Punxsutawney Phil, parents and pundits await to see what shadows will be cast on kids from the Super Bowl media hype blaring at surround sound decibel levels, even among those not remotely interested in 'the big game.' KJ Dell'Antonia, lead author of the NYTimes parenting blog the Motherlode does some hilarious pop culture … [Read more...]

Media Messages and Binge Drinking Influence On Teens

Dec. 31, 2012 Prequel to New Year's Eve... Long gone are the days when I could host a “New Year's at Noon Bubble Wrap Stomp” and watch little kids gleefully squirt silly string at each other in rowdy ‘make as much noise as you can” festivity for a honking good time... Those with older teens like myself are looking for healthier choices for teen New Year plans and maybe … [Read more...]

CCFC: A Positive Pick, Even When Calling Out Negative TOADY Toys

Dec. 4, 2012 No question I continue to land hard on watchdogs that aren’t woofin’ when it comes to media and marketing’s impact on kids, but nobody does it better than Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood (CCFC) with a solid lip curl and warning snarl before tearing the pants off of those without a corporate conscience focused on profiteering over public health…...So … [Read more...]