Sept. 9, 2015 It’s been an insightful, wild ride learning about the kids app industry...from the “Inside, Out.” In Part One we talked about the imperative need for transparency and media literacy … [Read more...]
Strong Is The New Pretty: Interview with Kate T. Parker
April 30, 2015 by
April 30, 2015 Adamant as I am about shifting appearance cues in the media towards a "whole person" lens, it's no surprise I was thrilled to hear photographer Kate T. Parker's catchphrase, "Strong is … [Read more...]
The Hashtag Bowl: Media Literacy Opportunities (Pt 2)
January 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Jan. 30, 2015 Whether it’s using hit movies like Frozen as an icebreaker to talk about social shunning, bullying, social emotional tough stuff or Super Bowl ads as learning tools to ferret out what’s … [Read more...]
Wrapping Up the Gift of Time: Part Two Hunger Games
December 21, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Update Dec. 21, 2014 Every year my teen prefers experiential "go-see-do" gifts to anything I can wrap up and put under the tree, (other than a GoPro which was a 'save up' winner for a milestone … [Read more...]
TOADY Awards: Vote for Worst Toy and Inspire Change
December 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
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 … [Read more...]
In-School Commercialism: A Back to School Checklist
September 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Sept. 14, 2017 An update on the unhealthy cues sent to kids with BoxTops for Education, via Harvard Chan School of Public Health podcast which nails the core problem quite succinctly. The program is … [Read more...]
Healthvana: Peace of Mind In The Dating App Era?
July 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Oct. 30, 2014 Update! With 'healthy Halloween' tweets on Twitter, I checked back on my own post here to see why it's getting a spike in 'retweet' circulation, and now see there's been huge press … [Read more...]
Culture Clash: STD App’s Naming Gaffe Goes Viral
April 3, 2014 by 6 Comments
July 19, 2014 Update: Mahalo and 'Ho'omaika'i 'ana (thank you and congratulations) for the corporate social responsibility exhibited by the Hula app founders and developers who have officially renamed … [Read more...]
Toys R Us Throws Mother Nature Under the Bus In Prankvertising
November 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Nov. 8, 2013 Update! Colbert gives a ‘Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger in his Nov. 6 edition, Forbes adds a resource roundup of the backlash among moms, (though I'd add it's not a gender issue as dads … [Read more...]
SureFire Girls: Life Literacy For Teens in a Power-Packed Conference
October 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Oct. 8, 2013 As the parent of a teen graduating high school, spring was like a surreal montage of college tours, anticipation, excitement and questions swirling in my brain.Did I give her enough savvy … [Read more...]
Back to School: Using Branding as a Media Literacy Lesson
September 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
August 20, 2015 Update: More Back to School branding boondoggles...Remember when the G-force Gatorade tribe was caught red-handed with their marketing machinations of hawking sugar hydration to … [Read more...]
The Tooth Fairy Is Not A Brand. Parents…Arise!
July 22, 2013 by 9 Comments
Aug. 6, 2013 Update! Honored to be accurately quoted in this pithy parenting prose by Heidi Stevens in The Chicago Tribune's thrilled to see all the parenting pushback on Twitter that CCFC put … [Read more...]
Ground Hog Day: Super Bowl Sexism Keeps Popping Up
February 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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 … [Read more...]
Media Messages and Binge Drinking Influence On Teens
December 31, 2012 by 1 Comment
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 … [Read more...]
CCFC: A Positive Pick, Even When Calling Out Negative TOADY Toys
December 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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 … [Read more...]
Toward The Stars: New Online Marketplace of Goods for Girls to Soar
November 19, 2012 by 5 Comments
Nov. 20, 2012 “To the moon!” was once an iconic working class phrase that 50s TV star Jackie Gleason made famous in mock-threat to his sitcom wife Alice in The Honeymooners. He'd shake his fist, “why, … [Read more...]
Who Won the Debate? Kids’ Focus on Appearance Mirrors Our Country
October 4, 2012 by 2 Comments
Oct. 4, 2012 Ask any kindergartener to assess the debates last night and you’d probably hear simple reactions like: “He smiles more” or “He looks nicer” or “He looks like he didn’t study”…and … [Read more...]
Wanted: Female Creative Directors To Change the Media Landscape
September 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Update Oct. 30, 2014 This coming week Nov. 3 & 4, 2014 Kat Gordon's highly successful 3PercentConference circles back to its origins in San Francisco after gaining momentum across the country, … [Read more...]
Stop Texting While Driving: Will People Learn To Steer Clear?
September 19, 2012 by 2 Comments
Feb. 4, 2015 Update! Tomorrow on Blog Talk Radio, impaired survivor of texting and driving Liz Marks shares her truth in a powerful show to get teens to LISTEN about putting down the phone. Lauren … [Read more...]
Bratzillaz, Novi Stars, Monster High: Same Sexualized SnoreFest
July 12, 2012 by
Update April 7, 2015 Toy Joy! New offerings upending the toy industry to send healthier cues to kids: Lottie Dolls, GoGoSportsGirls, and now this new Kickstarter, Ember World adventure dolls, … [Read more...]
