Youth Aids Day: First Gen Who’ve Never Known a World Without HIV

Nov. 25, 2015 Update World Aids Day is coming up Dec. 1st, and Durex is promoting the creation of a "condom emoji" to be used via social media to shorthand safety messages for public health. April … [Read more...]

Youth Ask Award Shows: Who’s Calling The Shots?

Feb. 26, 2011 Last Sunday in the New York Times, a full page paid “open letter” from 20-year music industry veteran Steve Stoute lambasted the gaming of the Grammys with full tilt incredulity for the … [Read more...]

Deconstructing Thanksgiving Stereotypes: The Mediatrician Is In

Nov. 25, 2015 Update: Couldn't resist this timely SNL Adele Thanksgiving skit slamming stereotypes...Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Nov. 27, 2014 Update: Favorite post to add this year for … [Read more...]

Amy Jussel On Changing the Channel of Media Influence

Oct. 28, 2010 Tonight I’ll be speaking on Changing the Channel of Influence in media, at The Third Place.org. I need to reiterate to ALL that Shaping Youth is a nonpartisan, non-religious-based, … [Read more...]

10-10-10 & 350! What Does It All Mean?

Oct 10, 2010 As mathletes and scientists find multiple meanings of coolness for 10-10-10 ranging from binary code to number 10 representing perfection or completion via the "I Ching," an ancient … [Read more...]

KFC’s “Assvertising”–A Double Down of Unhealthy Cues

September 22, 2010 Would you like a sideorder of sexualization with that heart attack? If the excess sodium from KFC’s Double Down innuendo-laden sat fat monstrosity doesn’t raise your risk factor … [Read more...]

Safety Expert Uses Media Literacy to Deconstruct McAfee Study

July 2, 2010 When I first saw this  note in my social media stream it raised my media literacy eyebrows to explore further. It said, “Interesting: McAfee has a very diff take on their own study  … [Read more...]

Dad’s Day Media: A Boy Needs Rules! Walker Lamond Says So

June 19, 2010 “Let’s get some things straight before I get old and uncool.” This is Walker Lamond’s 'dad-to-be' premise awaiting his son, who arrived shortly after publication... “Rules for my … [Read more...]

She’s The First To Rock For AfricAid! Support Girls Education Worldwide

June 10, 2010 It’s ironic. As schools let out for summer and kids in the US fist-pump with glee that they’re OUT, there are young girls in Africa doing the same thing when they find out they’ve … [Read more...]

Hey Grads! Free Gift For You! Josh Shipp’s 2010 Graduation Rap

June 5, 2010 As high schools pour out cap-flipping whoops and hollers from an elated senior class, the hidden layer beneath reveals a wee bit of queasiness about entering a lousy economy fraught with … [Read more...]

Refreshing Media Mashup: Using Library Cards for Freebie Fun!

June 4, 2010 It’s hard enough to get kids thinking about ‘summer reading’ when kids are gearing up to break loose from school for fun in the sun, but this cool idea prompting families into libraries … [Read more...]

6th Grade Boy Pulls A Susan Boyle To Trump LadyGaga

May 20, 2010 Riddle me this… What dynamo 6th grade boy from Edmond, Oklahoma performed LadyGaga’s Paparazzi managing to segue the local audience from ‘ho-hum, just another piano number’ talent show … [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 … [Read more...]

Shaping Youth Honors Girls Rights Week May 3-7

May 3, 2010 In honor of Girls Rights Week, advocating for positive change in the world, I’m going to run a week long series of “all things girl” to show how media and marketing can HELP rather than … [Read more...]

Earth Day: 40 Eco Links Worth Recycling to Friends

April 20, 2020 Update: (How often does that happen 20-2020?) 4-21-2020: Amidst the "Contagion" concerns of COVID-19, take a moment to imagine what POSITIVE CONTAGION taking action on climate … [Read more...]

Using Kid Lit To Read The Right Message About Bullying

April 18, 2010 Many of you know I clench when I hear the word ‘reporter’ (even though I’m one and the same, it’s different when you’re behind the keyboard) because media has powerful potential to … [Read more...]

Spring Break Sanctuary: Away From Digital Dramas, Peer Reality Shows

Mar. 25, 2016 Just back from a 'spring break' social media hiatus reprising our unplugged trip to Catalina Island, albeit only day tripping vs a leisurely week away, as we tried to 'recreate' and … [Read more...]

Deconstructing Gaga: Through the Lens of 100 Youth

Mar. 29, 2010 Whether you’re Gaga for Gaga or your emotions run toward dropping the last letter (ahem, cough) there’s no doubt her one billion online video views ascending her from bland to brand have … [Read more...]

Green Hedgehogs in Virtual Worlds? Let Your Leprechauns Loose!

Mar. 17, 2010 This morning I changed my Firefox 3.6 "persona" to shamrocks for the day, eliciting a green with envy response from my not so lil’ leprechaun teen who delighted in a green apple sour … [Read more...]

Olympic Life Lessons: Go For Your Personal Gold

March 2, 2010 Do you miss the Olympics already? I know I do, as it’s one of the rare times I tune in to the tube regularly to witness the spectacle, the quests, the rivalries and glitches that … [Read more...]