TOADY Awards: Vote for Worst Toy and Inspire Change

Dec. 4, 2014 Every year I twist into a cartoon grimace and let out an “AAUGH!” like Charlie Brown when I scan the CCFC contenders on the TOADY "worst toys" list. (TOADY=Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children)As much as I try to flip my lens toward what’s making waves with worthiness, there’s always one on the list that makes me stop and vote, “oh, no they … [Read more...]

CCFC Puts Energy Into Cleaning Up School Commercialism

May 16, 2011 Continuing our ‘positive picks’ series on media and marketing that matters, a gigantic ‘Howard Beale’ style shout from the windows “w00t!” to champions of change at CCFC, Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood who snuffed out the filthy coal curriculum pushed into schools via Scholastic after just 48 hours of harnessing the power of their CCFC aligned … [Read more...]

Babies Movie: Through The Lens of a Young Teen

May 11, 2010 I tried to warn her, “This isn’t some wham- bam fast-paced action thriller or rom-com dramedy, but Babies IS my movie choice for Mother’s Day, ok?” In preparation, I showed her the Babies trailer (after the jump) and the short little ‘featurette’ so she’d know there wouldn’t be ‘much of a plot line’ but more of an editorial commentary as seen through the eyes … [Read more...]

Media Hypefest: Is Prom the New Wedding? A Teen’s Perspective

May 7, 2010 As the last vestiges of prom wind down along with Girls Rights Week, I wanted to land one last post in the queue exploring media and marketing’s impact on kids' expectations, reality show distortions, and 'over the top' depictions of celebratory fetes. From ‘proma-a drama,’ lavish limos and  fantasy night fairytales (e.g. akin to the amped up MTV My Super Sweet … [Read more...]

ALLY Awards: Architects of Change Amidst Brands: Tween Town Hall

March 12, 2010 Today I soared through my first ever Virgin Airlines’ experience bemused by two giddy tween girls excitedly chirping to their mom about the pink and purple “mood lighting” befitting a nightclub and the free WiFi and touchscreen inflight services, as she flashed me one of those, “Where do these girls hear this stuff?” mutual-mama looks. I wanted to ask if they … [Read more...]