Violence in the Media - Solutions and Tips

After 18 months of research, the Center for Media Literacy has established a curriculum to challenge violence in the media. Beyond Blame: Challenging Violence in the Media, contains 31 lesson plans and outlines in four age groups: elementary (grades 4-5), middle school (grades 6-8), teen/adult (grade 10-adult) and parents/caregivers of young children. Lessons are accompanied by video segments for analysis and discussion, as well handouts. A community education packet is also available with a presentation outline, handouts, and video segments for a 90 minute "town hall" type presentation. For more information, contact the Center for Media Literacy by phone (800) 226-9494 or FAX (310) 559-9396

In researching the curriculum, several beginning solutions and tips were developed by The Center for Media Literacy.

1. Reduce exposure to media violence.
2. Change the impact of the violent images through deconstruction, decoding, and critical thinking analysis.
3. Locate and explore alternatives to media that focus on violence to solve conflict.
4. Uncover and challenge the cultural, economic, and political supports for media violence.
5. Break the cycle of blame and promote informed debate to challenge and reduce media violence.

The Center suggests that there are a number of ways to control children's exposure to violence:

1. Set guidelines about what is appropriate viewing in your family. Apply guidelines to all media: TV, cartoons, videos, movies, videogames, magazines, and comic books.
2. Help children select programs within your family's guidelines. Seek to add positive programs while limiting negative ones.
3. Be aware of what children are watching outside your home.
4. Communicate your standards to neighbors, grandparents, babysitters, and others who may care for your child or children. Ask their cooperation in limiting violent viewing.
5. Be a good role model when making your own viewing selections.
6. Periodically watch TV with your children to share their experience of TV and to learn more about what they do and don't understand about what they see and hear.
7. Use a VCR to tape appropriate entertainment for children to watch alone.
8. Encourage children to become involved in a variety of leisure activities other than TV, videogames, and videos.
9. Talk about TV management with other parents; share tips and provide support for one another; challenge those who are still apathetic.