Media Literacy Week: Wait, That Actress is HOW Old?

Oct. 27, 2016 On the cusp of Media Literacy Week, Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2016 I'm turning over the mic (er, keyboard) to MediaGirls as part of our Media Literacy Week series on creating critical thinkers in … [Read more...]

Youth Taking Action? Here’s How to Best Support Them

Sept. 19, 2016 When media pundits paint with a large brush focusing on "youth narcissism and selfie culture" amidst passionistas and purposeful prosocial projects that amplify student voice, it's … [Read more...]

Hidden in Plain Sight: Kelly Parks Snider, Project Girl

Sept. 23, 2015 Can't think of a better "Wordless Wednesday" than this powerful art exhibition "Hidden in Plain Sight" which speaks volumes in its visual insight. Creator and artist Kelly Parks … [Read more...]

Joe Kelly on Eating Disorders, Support, Outreach for Men

Update Apr. 2, 2015 Heads up to DADS and all men with loved ones experiencing an eating disorder: Joe Kelly will be giving his important workshop in Los Altos, CA April 25, 2015. Oct. 12, 2014 Though … [Read more...]

Gaming: A Battle Over Anorexia In World of Warcraft

June 7, 2014 This coming week I’m attending the colossal gaming #Gsummit in S.F., a four-figure fee fandango (won in a drawing) that I’m eagerly sweeping my slate for in order to learn from ‘the … [Read more...]

Her Next Chapter: Media Literacy Puts Mothers-Daughters On Same Page

April 17, 2015 Update In honor of National Library Week as I put the finishing touches on my presentation tomorrow about gender stereotypes and navigating unhealthy cues to kids, I'm sending a loud … [Read more...]

Biggest Loser? Healthy Eating. Weight Loss Is Not Entertainment

May 3, 2016 Update Medical communities and studies on metabolic measures should skew headlines into bold "I told you so" moments given that many have wagged about this show doing 'more harm than good' … [Read more...]

GoDaddy Swaps Sexualization of Women for Objectification of Men

Jan. 27, 2015 Update: Animal Abuse Now? #NoDaddy. Horrific Ad. Sadly, 2015 Go Daddy swaps commodification of bodies for commodification of helpless animals, with a tone deaf 'breeders over shelters' … [Read more...]

2014: The Year Of Redefining Girly

Jan. 10, 2014 Even in just the last 5 years or so since the American Psychological Association Task Force reported about the harm of early sexualization and its impact on children (full 72pp APA study … [Read more...]

Take Back Halloween: Debunking the Mythology of Market Demand

Update Oct. 22, 2016 Check out the new 2016 Take Back Halloween Costume Contest! (deadline to enter  11-6-16) And...in case any hipster parents are mumbling "what's the harm it's 2016, lighten up, … [Read more...]

SureFire Girls: Life Literacy For Teens in a Power-Packed Conference

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...]

Brave Girls Want To Put Media On A Different Frequency!

Oct. 10, 2013 Update: At the end is a newly minted press release/activities update, and this great post by Adios Barbie crams a lot into a small package involving some of the partner organization … [Read more...]

Brave Girls Want: A Movement, Not a Moment.

Sept. 11, 2013 Grand Finale Tally for IndieGoGo campaign ended at 11:59PT: $26,673 Sept. 9, 2013 Today marks the triumph of a grassroots groundswell over colossal corporate branding, with the … [Read more...]

National Assoc for Media Literacy Education: Amy Jussel, Resource Roundup

July 8, 2013 Gearing up for speaking at my first ever National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) conference this coming weekend, I’m taming butterflies as I’m honored to be on a … [Read more...]

Olympic Body Image: Talking Points To Get it Right, Fit vs Fiction

Aug. 9, 2016 Rio! This post still applies tenfold in terms of word watching and body image critiques of Olympic athletes! Media Smarts has added some parenting talking tips for boys/girls too! … [Read more...]

Julia Bluhm’s Plea To Curb PhotoShop Sparks Change at Seventeen Mag

July 8, 2012 No secret the 'world according to teen magazines' is abysmal for girls, and we've seen mega-stats, studies and fact sheets about the impact on tweens and teens, (KFF pdf here) but as the … [Read more...]

Steamed About Sexualization? Healthy Media for Youth Act Now!

July 12-16, 2010: Healthy Media for Youth week! Fed up with “boy chasin’ bed swappin’ lip-lickin’ hottie-hoochie booty-bouncin’ appearance-is-everything” cues comin’ at your girls? Yah, so are … [Read more...]

Our Body Image Pro, Dr. Robyn Silverman on The Tyra Show Oct. 5!

October 2, 2009 Many of you know the irony that I’m ‘press phobic’ and camera shy despite a journalism and ad/media background plus a Communications degree, so it always amazes me when people LIKE the … [Read more...]

Shaping Youth Interviews ATB Director Darryl Roberts

Last Friday I broke policy and posted America the Beautiful: “See it. Support it.” sight unseen! 48 hours ago I saw it; applauded it. 24 hours ago I started a ‘social media … [Read more...]

Bimbo Bait: Is Silence or Outrage the Solution for Digital Drek?

Early April Fool's joke? Tasteless ploy of a 23-year old web guy for publicity and profit perhaps? Just when you thought media influence on body image had reached the tipping point of toxicity, our … [Read more...]