(via The Telegraph) Too much television can make children ‘mentally ill’

Too much television and time spent on the internet can make children mentally ill, an in-depth report has concluded.

Excessive exposure makes a child materialistic, which in turn affects their relationship with their parents and their health.

That is one of the conclusions of a new wide-ranging survey into British childhood, produced for the Children’s Society.

It says that children are part of a new form of consumerism, with under 16 year-olds spending £3 billion of their own money each year on clothes, snacks, music, video games and magazines.

The report claims that some advertisers “explicitly exploit the mechanism of peer pressure, while painting parents as buffoons” and that in its most extreme form, advertising persuades children that “you are what you own”.

In addition the “constant exposure” to celebrities through, TV soaps, dramas and chat shows is having a detrimental effect.

It says: “Children today know in intimate detail the lives of celebrities who are richer than they will ever be, and mostly better-looking. This exposure inevitably raises aspirations and reduces self-esteem.”

It adds the way celebrities are portrayed “automatically encourages the excessive pursuit of wealth and beauty.”

This “media-driven consumerism” is having a negative effect on a child’s wellbeing, the report says.

It highlights a study into the effect of consumerism on the psychological wellbeing of 10-13 year-olds.

That study found: “Other things being equal, the more a child is exposed to the media (television and Internet), the more materialistic she becomes, the worse she relates to her parents and the worse her mental health.”

The Good Childhood inquiry, compiled by more than 35,000 contributors is independent of the Church of England affiliated society but has been endorsed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams.

It takes an in-depth look at the changing face of childhood and family life in Britain, and the challenges facing youngsters today.

The report has found that only a quarter of children with mental health problems get any specialist help, and one in 10 five to 16-year-olds now have mental health issues, ranging from anxiety or depression to conduct disorders such as destructive behaviour.

It claims that the upward trend of violence in the media in general, is making children violent and causing tension within the family.

The report says: “We know from controlled studies that exposure to violence can breed violence.

“So it seems likely that the upward trend in media violence is helping to produce the upward trend in violent behaviour – and also the growth of psychological conflict in family relationships.”

The report also notes that commercial pressures have led to the “premature sexualisation” of young people.

It notes that young people are having sex earlier because of “many forces”, including “more privacy when both parents work, more contraception, commercial pressures toward premature sexualisation, and fundamental changes in attitude”.

The report recommends that sex and relationships, and understanding of the media should be a compulsory part of the personal, social and health curriculum.

And it says advertising of unhealthy foods and alcohol should be banned before 9pm.

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Film, Documentary and Community Media Makers: Dublin Community TV needs your work!

You might have stumbled upon Dublin Community TV over on NTL 802. At DCTV we have a unique mission to enhance diversity, empower communities and build participation in both media and community development.

As part of this mission, we’ve developed a schedule designed to get you involved.  Our schedule is broken into several blocks designed to cater for different styles of programme and audience.  We are always looking to add more programmes to our blocks or innovate how we schedule material.
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Last Wedneday the 14th of May the Communications Minister Eamon Ryan announced the publication of the Broadcasting Bill 2008.

The new Bill supersedes the Broadcasting Bill 2006 and updates current Radio and TV broadcasting legislation in light of modern technological advances and the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD, Dec 2007)

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BCI ANNOUNCES DTT APPLICANT DETAILS

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has today announced details of applications received for the three national Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) multiplex contracts, which were advertised by the Commission on March 7th last. A total of nine applications were received from three consortia by the 12 noon deadline. Details of the applicant groups are as follows:

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The Irish Examiner has picked up on the recent Ofcom ruling on BBC’s Blue Peter for the rigging of a phone in competition.

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Documentary filmmaker claims PBS shows bias
‘Islam vs. Islamists’ examines pressures on moderate Muslims

Canadian novelist and veteran documentary filmmaker Martyn Burke is not someone you’d expect to get into an ugly ideological spitting match with the folks who run PBS.

Burke, who lives and works in the heart of the Hollywood creative community, considers himself neither conservative nor liberal. But “Islam vs. Islamists,” the documentary he made about how moderate Muslims are being silenced and intimidated by Islamist extremists, will not be part of “America at a Crossroads,” PBS’s new 11-part, six-night series about post-9/11 America that begins Sunday night at 9.

Executives at WETA in Washington, D.C., the public station overseeing the series for PBS, say the documentary was cut from the “Crossroads” lineup because it wasn’t completed in time and because it was “alarmist” and not objective. PBS says it may run it at a later date.
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IMRN - Seminar
Date: Friday 16 February 2007 7.30-9.00pm followed by a glass of wine

Venue: Dublin Business School, Aungier St, Dublin

Guest speaker: Anthony Fox (independent film producer, writer, actor, currently filming - “Anton“)

Adm: free

The seminar will provide the opportunity to examine and discuss the production process with a practitioner, including all aspects of research required and how problems are overcome. Specific reference and illustration will be made to Anthony’s current project “Anton.”

Have a look for other similar future events here.

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The most recent decisions of the Board of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) were released today after their board meeting on December 8, 2006. At this meeting the Board considered and/or adjudicated upon nineteen complaints.

Complaints upheld

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The government’s trial foray into online public consulatation is has begun to attract attention.

econsultation.ie is being used to discuss 12 selected issues regarding the Broadcasting Bill 2006. There is some discusion under the headings:

• Statutory duties, codes and rules imposed on broadcasters (commercial, community and public service broadcasters) including equal status for radio and television
• Complaints and rights or reply

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January 16th 2007 Posted to Radio, TV & Film, Broadcasting codes

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The following is some info with an Irish perspective on the EU directives on broadcasting (Television without Frontiers Directive)

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