New Years Media Messages: Packaging Boyhood Meets The Hangover

Dec. 29, 2009 Last night I watched ‘The Hangover’ rated R, which I’d heard described by several YOUNG teens (meaning unable to buy a ticket unless sneaking in via diff. multiplex theater) as ‘hilarious,'  and ‘over the top’ and wanted to see where the kid appeal was coming from and try to ‘relate’ to why this movie was a ‘favorite’ on many a Facebook page. I'm not here to … [Read more...]

CyberBullying Tragedies and Internet Safety: eModeration Part3

Dec. 3, 2009 Just visited the excellent Connect Safely forum to pose the industry question, is there ANYthing that digital moderators or online advocates could’ve done in the child safety realm to prevent the loss of 13-year old Hope Witsell due to the suicide/sexting case? Obviously, Hope's case (visual at left/MSNBC) was on mobile phones, but cyberbullying/bodysnarking and … [Read more...]

Shaping Youth Teen Team Reflects On Disneynature EARTH Premiere

April 22, 2009 Talk about a ‘circle of life.’ Disneynature, the first film label to be released by Disney in 60 years, truly DOES represent a full rotation of EARTH, by going back to their studio roots of documenting extraordinary wonders rather than ‘imagineering’ them all themselves. Sounds as refreshingly authentic as a Susan Boyle discovery, with high profit potential … [Read more...]

Amy Jussel On Kids’ Media Management and Childhood Matters

Why ‘Amy Jussel’ instead of ‘Shaping Youth’ in the headline today? Because this time it’s personal…That’s mama code for ‘don’t do as I do, do as I say’ on the media management front from my own tween experience regarding familial cellphone contracts, texting and mobile media. I was on the radio with talk show host Nurse Rona Renner (podcast to be archived here) who runs … [Read more...]