My weird background of journalism, advertising, advocacy, and parenthood blend into a Molotov cocktail of media literacy, so when it comes to playing ‘spot the spin’ it’s pretty hard to snow me. Ergo, Warner Brothers' Happy Feet cartoon penguins cozying up with pharmaceutical giant Roche to give parents a dose of ‘flu fact awareness’ leaves me … [Read more...]
Three-quarters of girls age 8-12 would like to change something about their bodies, and by 16 more than one-quarter already want plastic surgery? Egad. I decided to track the Dove self-esteem forum to review the most recent 48 hours of 'teenspeak' and see how much these stats are 'media spin' or over-reporting. Not many, I'm afraid. Check it out... Dialogue has now surged … [Read more...]
Is tuna still ok for kids? There’s been lots of controversy about the government repeatedly downplaying the hazards of mercury in fish, yet tuna is still being marketed to kids with ol’ cartoon Charlie. Is it safe or not? Also, is Trix toning down their dyes? Find out in this short Shaping Youth Q&A with nutritionist Connie Evers. But first! Kids' food marketing … [Read more...]
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Aretha earned it. Lindsay wants it. Paris lacks it. Beyoncé & Britney had it, hit some high notes, then vamped it away.Our media culture is so fraught with ‘trashy party girl’ celebrity coverage and peekaboo wardrobe malfunctions papering the blogosphere, it’s no wonder kids’ behavioral cues are getting fouled up beyond recognition.What goes into kids’ minds … [Read more...]
How many times have you received a ‘sample ballot’ and groaned at the conniving spins and political backwash to the point where it takes full concentration whether to even check ‘yes or no’ because of the way the dang thing is written? Face it, rather than read the endless ‘rebuttal to argument in favor of xyz’ prose, many busy people now … [Read more...]
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