ARTICLES: Average teenager has never met quarter of Facebook friends (UK)

The average 12- to 15-year-old has never met one in four of their "friends" on social networking websites such as Facebook, according to new research.

Telecoms and media regulator Ofcom's annual Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report also found that teenage girls are the UK's texting champions, sending more than 220 a week – a third more than boys.

The regulator's latest research revealed that 12- to 15-year-olds on average spend 17 hours a week on the internet, matching TV viewing for the first time, and that potentially well over a third of three- and four-year-olds use the internet for TV and games.

More than 40% of five- to 15-year-olds who have internet access have a social networking profile, rising to 80% among 12- to 15-year-olds.

The latter age group has an average of 286 online friends and 93% of them claim they are confident they know about online safety.

full article on The Guardian website

ARTICLES: Children's TV Exposure Reaches 'Startling' Levels, Study Finds

Many parents work hard to limit the amount of time their kids spend glued to the television, but a new study finds that exposure is nonetheless creeping into American kids' daily routines in more insidious ways. On any given day, children in the U.S. are exposed to nearly four hours of background TV -- a finding that experts say may take a toll on children's development.

Research measuring direct, foreground television exposure suggests that between birth and age 6, the average child in the U.S. watches nearly an-hour-and-a-half per day. But the new study, published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics, is the first to quantify kids' indirect exposure to TV.

"The sheer amount of exposure is startling," said study author Jessica Taylor Piotrowski, an assistant professor with the Amsterdam School of Communication Research at the University of Amsterdam.

full article on the Huffington Post website

NEWS: Balkans gets tough on Internet crimes against children

September 11, 2012

Countries throughout the region are considering ways to protect children from pedophiles and other unseen dangers on the Internet.

Regional data shows that 20 percent of children who use the Internet become the target of an online predator or pedophile. Of those targeted, 77 percent are 14 years old or older and 22 percent are 10 to 13 years old. Of those children who encounter sexual content online, 93 percent fail to inform their parents, said social media consultant and software producer Darko Disoski.

Several countries are taking differing approaches to the problem. Serbia created a task force two years ago to deal with online pedophiles, and has arrested 40 people to date.

In Bulgaria, meanwhile, authorities are giving parents more control over what their children see online by offering software that tracks webpages and keystrokes and sends a daily report to parents. The effort is designed to make it easier for parents to keep children away from sites where they could be approached by unwanted adults.

Macedonia's ministry of information technology and administration announced plans for a helpline to educate parents and children on ways to minimise exposure and to report illicit online material. NGOs were also asked to join the effort.

full article

NEWS / PROJECTS: UNICEF launching children's news service

Dhaka, Sep 5 (bdnews24.com)—The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and bdnews24.com, the first Internet newspaper and the largest news agency of Bangladesh, are jointly launching a news service for children. 

The programme will be launched on Thursday through signing of an agreement by the two organisations at a ceremony at the newspaper's Mohakhali office. 

UNICEF is considering the initiative as an opportunity for children to contribute in making a child-friendly news industry and for strengthening their rights. 

Children can participate in the service through browsing http://kidz.bdnews24.com, a section devoted for children by the newspaper.

full article

NEWS: Angola: Media Role in Addressing Youth Issues Debated in Workshop (AFRICA)

Viana — The vice-minister of Social Communication, Miguel de Carvalho "Wadijimbi", said on Saturday in Luanda that media is a privileged vehicle for divulging information and actions of any kind to the citizens.

The official said so while addressing a workshop on "The Role played by media in handling issues related to youth" in Viana's Youth House.

He said that media organs perform three basic functions, namely information, training and recreation.

To the deputy minister, media is dependent on telecommunications and without the development of these media and there is no media that works."

According to him, the media can be turned into courts for discussing issues that preoccupy young people, encouraging them to interactive spaces for dialogue that help youth meet.

full article on the AllAfrica website

ARTICLES / PROJECTS: Kids' Newspaper Debuts in Union County

Kidsville News! the nation’s fastest growing children’s newspaper is now available in Union County. Kidsville News! of Union County, based in Summit and represented by Publisher, Susan L. Pinto, of All About Kids Media, LLC, is pleased to bring Kidsville News! and its educational initiative to the residents of Union County.

Kidsville News! is a free, educational resource for all elementary-age children, their families and teachers, which encourages reading as a lifelong habit and promotes literacy nationwide. We are currently in 8 counties in New Jersey and growing, as well as in 16 states nationwide. Bill Bowman, President of Kidsville News! Inc., who launched the educational, and literacy initiative in Fayetteville, NC in 1998, said, “Our growth has been phenomenal”.

full article

ARTICLES: Young people switch media 27 times per hour

While naysayers fear technology is destroying the attention spans of our nation's youth, it may be far more detrimental to the future of advertising, a recent study reveals. 

"Digital natives" – those who've never lived in a world without 24/7 cable TV, Internet access and cellphones – switch media venues 27 times per nonworking hour, according a small-but-telling study commissioned by Time Inc. and conducted by Innerscope Research. And, as Advertising Age notes, if the kids keep switching between cellphones, TVs, magazines (young people still read magazines, right?), there may not be nearly enough time for advertisers to sell them stuff!

http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/young-people-switch-media-27-times-hour-689770

ARTICLES: Saying Yes to Digital Media in Preschool and Kindergarten

You, a parent of young children, may be tethered to your phone, iPad and laptop. But you cringe at the thought of touchscreens and apps slinking into your children's preschool classrooms. You worry about your 4-year-old turning into a device-obsessed zombie who barely notices the world around her. You might even suggest that screen technology should be banned from any setting designed for young children.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children doesn't agree with you. And with good reason.

Today, the NAEYC, the largest trade organization for early educators in the country, released a statement in conjunction with the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media about technology and young children (up through age 8). Though the groups discourage "passive screen technology" usage -- like TV and DVDs -- with children under two, they don't suggest a ban on screens for preschoolers or kindergartners as some child-advocacy groups have suggested. Nor do they say teachers should avoid using technology with young kids. Instead, the groups puts the onus on teachers to make smart decisions and use technology appropriately.

full article in the Huffington Post

PRESS RELEASE / RESEARCH: Ofcom Update: Revealed: How parents control children’s access to adult media

A new online survey conducted by the website ParentPort reveals that, of those parents surveyed whose children watch films at home, 40% had allowed their children to watch a film classified above their age.

The survey of 1,800 respondents from the UK's two largest online parenting communities – Mumsnet and Netmums - reveals the challenges and pressures parents face when it comes to keeping the media their children see age-appropriate.

ParentPort was set up last October to make it easier for parents to complain about material they see or hear across the media, communications and retail industries.

The news release on the survey can be found here on the ParentPort website.

EVENTS: Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Children's Media in Ukraine for Friendship or Aggression? Freedom of Speech and Responsibility

On Friday, February 3, at 13.30, the press centre of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference entitled "Children's Media in Ukraine for Friendship or Aggression? Freedom of Speech and Responsibility" on the results of the Open Policy Foundation projects implemented with the assistance of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.

Participating will be Counsellor of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine Ivanna Wagner, author of the children animation video "Freedom of speech!" Vasylyna Haran, people'sdeputy of Ukraine Olha Herasumiuk, journalist and TVi Channel Director General Mykola Kniazhytsky, director, children media-studio "Birds" Leader, Open Policy Foundation Olena Zelenska, G.S. Kostiuk Institute of Psychology, Doctor Lesia Vovchyk-Blakytna, and Head on Social Programs, NGO Open Policy Foundation, Doctor Iryna Zhdanova (8/5-А Reitarska Street).

Accreditation by phone: (044) 2532139.

source

ARTICLES / RESEARCH: Parents want children to watch ‘quality’ TV: study (TAIWAN)

A study from the National Communications Commission (NCC) shows that while most parents in Taiwan would like their children to watch more news and educational TV programs, school-age children prefer watching television dramas featuring popular teen idols.

The nation's media regulator last year commissioned a research institute to examine the influence of TV programs and commercials on the behavior of children aged four to 12. The results, which were released earlier this month, showed that more than 60 percent of children aged 10 to 12 said TV influenced them more than anything else.

full article

ARTICLES: Children's influence growing in digital age

Digital media such as social networks and mobile devices are giving children more influence than in previous generations, a new book argues.

Distinguished Professor John Hartley, of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI) at QUT, said the prevalence of 'new media' had given children's actions and choices more significance.

In his book Digital Futures for Cultural and Media Studies, Professor Hartley said that as children engaged with one another and wider society online, they exerted a largely unseen, but growing influence.

"For example, children's online actions are already being closely tracked by business to determine their preferences in order to satisfy their demands for various products - and thus influence the course of industry," Professor Hartley said.

full article

NEWS: UNICEF Ends Global ICDB but Encourages Broadcasters to Keep the Spirit Alive

In 2011, UNICEF marked the 20th Anniversary of its International Children’s Day of Broadcasting initiative.  The initiative, which began as a way to get broadcasters to devote airtime to children’s issues, has grown over the years to become a celebration of young people’s participation in the media.  Along the way, it has inspired the development of quality children’s programming, regularly-programmed youth-led television and radio shows and a multitude of special events.  We have seen it embraced by both high-level private stations to public broadcasters in the smallest of countries.

Today we celebrate what the initiative has been able to accomplish and announce the end of this wonderful ICDB initiative.  From the feedback we’ve received, it is clear that the ICDB has accomplished its goals of getting better quality programming and a dedication from broadcasters to devote more attention to young people.  At this stage, with the shift in the media landscape and the excellent developments that the ICDB has produced, it makes sense to declare the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting a success.

full article

NEWS / APPS: PBS KIDS Expands Video App to iPhone & iPod touch

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec 06, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- PBS KIDS today announced the PBS KIDS Video App is now available on iPhone and iPod touch, bringing more free educational video content to families than any other children's media app. The app gives families free, streaming access to more than 2,000 videos -- including clips and full episodes -- from their favorite PBS KIDS series. The PBS KIDS Video App launched on iPad in May with great success; it has served more than 430 million video streams -- an average of two million per day -- and has had over 450,000 downloads to date.

"PBS KIDS video has been incredibly successful online, making PBSKIDS.org the number one kids entertainment site for free streamed videos,i" said Jason Seiken, Senior Vice President, Interactive, PBS. "When we launched the PBS KIDS Video iPad app in May, it was equally well-received, with 50 million streams just in the first month and growing to more than 86 million streams in November. And kids watch more video streams on the PBS KIDS Video iPad app than on nearly all other children's broadcast and cable network websites.ii After seeing this high demand for our children's programming on the iPad we were committed to extending the app's reach to the iPhone and iPod touch, which will bring our popular content to even more kids and parents."

full article

NEWS / PROJECTS: New children's media project launches in SA and Zambia

'Children & Media: Championing Best Practice', is a project that launches today, Thursday 24 February 2011, by Media Network on Child's Rights and Development (MNCRD) in Zambia, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) in South Africa and Save the Children, with the support of the European Union and Sida Sweden.

It aims to work with almost 600 children and 500 journalists to ensure children's rights are respected in media in South Africa and Zambia, and to deliver more representative and ethical journalism.

According to MMA director, William Bird, "We've seen a gradual improvement in how children are reported on in the media since 2003. However in SA, 7% of stories that mention children violate their rights, in Zambia that figure is 18%. This is usually where a child is named where it is clearly it is not in its best interests, frequently stigmatising the child, increasing its vulnerability or even putting its life in danger."

full article

ARTICLES: A teens-eye view of the digital future

“My kids never watch TV anymore. They are always on the computer.”

It’s a common remark from the parents of teens and young adults. Probe a little deeper and you may discover that contemporary youth, like young people before them, are too busy socializing to watch TV — in this case by texting their friends or logging on to Facebook. Or you may find out they are watching TV shows and movies on their computers, downloading them from file-sharing sites.

To get a glimpse of the future, we asked the class of 2010 what media they owned and how they used it. Some of them watched TV, some of them didn’t, but only one of the five interviewed couldn’t name a favourite TV show.

full article

NEWS: Nordisk Film & TV Fond Unveils Details Of High Five Kids

Nordisk Film & TV Fond announced last month the launch of its new initiative ‘High Five Cross Media Content for Kids'. Guidelines and invitation to apply are now available on line.

The goal of this new initiative is to ensure that innovative and adventurous Nordic universes are available for children in cinemas and on TV as well as on various new platforms. "It felt natural for us at Nordisk Film & TV Fond to invest in cross media for kids at a time when entertainment consumption habits are rapidly evolving, in particular within the target group of children and youngsters who are among the most avid and nomadic consumers of audiovisual content," said the Fund's CEO Hanne Palmquist.

Projects submitted by Nordic film and TV production companies can deal with all genres or themes, but must be suitable for children within the age groups of 3-6, 7-10 or 11-13. Six of them will be selected and offered development support of NOK250,000 each. As part of the development process the selected projects and their producers will be invited to attend two workshops supervised by international experts.

The first workshop will be held mid October 2010. The second workshop in February/March 2011 will be wrapped by a pitching session and a Financing Forum. Deadline to apply for ‘High Five Cross Media Content for Kids' is September 6, 2010. Projects selected will be announced on September 27, 2010.

Source

For full details, click here.

INTERVIEWS: Geena Davis touts gender equality in kids media

Q: How did the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media come into being?

A: That happened as a result of watching kids' entertainment with my then-2-year-old daughter; she's 8 now. I started to watch G-rated videos and TV shows and I was really stunned to see what I perceived to be a big gender disparity.

I was thinking, why on earth in the 21st century are we not showing kids sharing the sandbox equally?

When I mentioned it to people in the industry, the typical reaction was, "I don't think that's true; they've fixed that." I realized to have any impact, I would need data.

(We did) the largest research study ever done on G-rated films and kids' television programs. The results were what I had perceived: There were far more male characters than female; the male characters were doing all the interesting things and having the adventures. The female characters were stereotyped, often serving as eye candy.

Since then we've brought that research to the studios and networks that are creating this content. We work from the inside in a collegial way to encourage improvement.

full interview

NEWS / EVENTS / CONFERENCES: Journalists invited to World Summit on Media for Children and Youth

Posted on: 18/03/2010 Basic Journalism, Young Journalists Region: Worldwide

Media educators, researchers, media industry officials and all others with an interest in media for youth are invited to the World Summit on Media for Children and Youth, to be held in Karlstad, Sweden from June 14 to 18.

At the event, which will be attended by approximately 500 delegates from 80 countries, over 100 experts will share their knowledge and expertise on the topic. Sessions focus on media and health, media and sexuality, news for children, human rights, media for peace, youth media consumers and more.

Registration costs US$475.

For more information, click here. Questions can be directed to the Conference Administration of Karlstad University at worldsummit2010@kau.se.

Source - Conference website

NEWS: Centre for study of children's media launched at Faculty of Education (UK)

Research centre will survey impact of children's classics as well as new media

by Imogen Goodman

Sunday 7th February 2010, 15:48 GMT

A new centre for Research and Teaching in Children’s Literature has been formally launched this week in Cambridge as part of the Faculty of Education. The centre consists of thirteen researchers, all of whom are existing members of the Faculty.

Researchers will survey the impact of various cultural materials upon the ideological development of children, from an early age through to adolescence. Less-traditional media platforms, such as videogames and fan fiction, will be analysed alongside literary classics such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

full article