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            Important Conference March 2012. Highly recommended.

The 3^rd Australian Conference on Children and the Media

 

Friday 9 March 2012 9am - 5pm

Telstra 242 Conference Centre

242 Exhibition Street (cnr Lonsdale St)

MELBOURNE

Our society is overflowing with products targeted at children. But are children healthier, happier and more content? 

The evidence shows that this is not the case. Where are the protections for children in predatory  commercial environments?

This seminar will explore the issues, review the research and discuss possible remedies.   

       Prof Stephen Kline (author Globesity) - Fast  Food/Sluggish Kids: Researching media -        saturated domesticity. 

• Jane Caro (the Gruen Planet) - Industry perspectives on advertising and marketing to children


• Prof Rob Moodie - Advertising to death: The promotion of unhealthy behaviours.  


• Prof Elizabeth Handsley -   How well does the law protect children from commercialism?


• Prof Douglas Gentile - Recent research on video game addiction; what factors make     games more addictive? 


• Dr Wayne Warburton  - What effects do narratives in advertising have on  children?


• Prof Sharon Beder (author This little kiddie went to market ) - The corporate capture of childhood 


• Dr Wendy Varney -  Marketing toys to children  
      


• Dr C Glenn Cupit - How should parents and communities respond?
      


• Julie Gale (Kf2bK) - Being a child in a commercialised world
      
   

 Chaired by Prof Alan Hayes, Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies

Registration:

Early Bird to Jan 16 - $220 (ARACY members $200)

Full registration (Jan 17 to Mar 9) $275 (ARACY members $250)

Student /Concession $130 

NOTE: ARACY membership is free. 

Phone 02 6248 2400 to become  an ARACY member, or if an existing member, to obtain the discount promotion code.  

Book online at:  www.trybooking.com/BAIY

For more information, contact

admin@youngmedia.org.au 
or PH 08 8376 2111

HELP SPREAD THE WORD. PLEASE FORWARD THIS NOTICE TO YOUR NETWORKS

 
Conference partners:

ACCM - The Australian Council on Children and the Media

ARACY - Australian Research Alliance For Children and Youth   

Macquarie University  

 

Proudly supported by Telstra

 

 

Congratulations to Collective Shout for campaigning against DIva.

Nearly 7,000 people signed the petition in suppport of their call for Diva to stop selling the Playboy range. Diva's target market is 8 - 14 year old girls.

Kids Free 2B Kids hopes that Diva has taken this petition and boycott seriously and  withdraws the Playboy range completely  - we believe that many stores still have some of the product on the shelves. Not good enough!

Read more from Melinda Tankard Reist - co founder of Collective Shout.

For regular updates and latest news - visit the KF2BK facebook.

Diva, whose target market is tween to teenage girls, recently added the Playboy brand to its jewellery range.

Sign petition below.             

Diva is owned by BB Retail who also own Adairs and Bras'n things. These stores have been blatantly advertising Playboy merchandise in major family shopping centres for some time.

It is shameful corporate irresponsibility to introduce the Playboy brand to a store that is frequented by young girls.

There has been much public outcry over this decision - and so far, no comment from the company.

KF2BK Director Julie Gale has left two messages on the Diva Facebook page:

To the management - Promoting Playboy is promoting the porn industry - it's that simple. Increasing research informs us that exposure to adult sexualised concepts is harmful to children & young teens. Kids are constantly bombarded with pornified images and your company is contributing to that harm. You can choose to act on what child development professionals advise - or continue to help desensitise a new generation of kids about what the 'cute' bunny ear brand really stands for.     Julie Gale - Director Kids Free 2B Kids.

To the Management - if you are thinking that all this interest is good advertising - think again. When 'Cotton On' sold   t-shirts for little kids with adult sexualised humour on them - there was huge public outcry. In fact the call for a boycott spread to New Zealand as well. Eventually the Cotton On CEO acknowledged that his buyers had made the wrong decision and the company withdrew over 40,000... items of clothing Australia wide. It was reactive responsibility - but at least it was responsibility. We congratulate Collective Shout on their call for a boycott and have signed their petition. We call on Diva to take responsible action and stop marketing the major brand of the porn industry to young girls.     Julie Gale Director Kids Free 2B Kids.

Kids Free 2B Kids supports the boycott and petition led by Collective Shout.

Please sign the petition here.

Read more about Diva and Playboy in this excellent blog post by CEO of Enlighten Education -
Danielle Miller. 

           
Keep up with the latest - join us on Facebook. 
 

 

The Australian Council on Children and the Media is proud to present:

STEVE BIDDULPH ON RAISING GIRLS

Monday September 26 at Immanuel College Auditorium, Novar Gardens. Adelaide.

7.15 pm for 7.30 pm start     

A seminar for all those concerned about what is happening to girls from babyhood to teens.

All over the world, sexualisation, obsession with looks and anxieties are making girls' lives tough.   Steve will talk about what mums, dads, communities and the media need
to do to bring back healthy lives for girls and young women.  

Girlhood is meant to be an adventure, full of broad interests and a love of life.
Lets win back girlhood !  

Bookings must be made in advance: Book NOW

Tickets $27.50       

Book online here.

For more info contact admin@youngmedia.org.au  or PH 08 8376 2111

We regret that no babies or children can be admitted.   

__________________________________________________________________________________ 

Generation Next Seminar - Perth 23rd September

A public seminar aimed at understanding the unique health and wellbeing
challenges facing generations Y & Z - and how these challenges can be met!

Fabulous line up of speakers!

Click here for more information.

 

Kids Free 2B Kids welcomes the UK report of an Independent Review of the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood titled: Letting Children be Children.

Read a summary here.

It should be said that the Australian Government was seen to be leading the way on this issue, when it held a senate inquiry into the sexualisation of children in the contemporary media environment back in June 2008.

But the UK has now left us in its tracks....

In Australia there has been little to zero action on the recommendations from the 2008 inquiry.

The review promised 18 months later has never happened.

Recommendations from the Australian inquiry stated that although sexualisation is a societal issue and we are all responsible, the onus must lay with industry - that is advertisers, marketers, retailers, broadcasters...

In that time there has been absolutely no indication of proactive responsibility from industry.

We note UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the Children's Minister will invite "a wide range of businesses and regulators into Downing Street in October and ask them to report on steps they have taken to address the issues raised in this report".

We challenge the Australian Government to do the same...at the very least hold the promised review!

Furthermore, we challenge the Australian Government to pay heed to the increasing research and major concerns expressed by child psychiatrists and child psychologists.

We caution the UK to ensure the planned 'stock-take' in 18 months time' actually happens.

Enough reports..enough recommendations...enough finger wagging at the industry...time for action!!

 

Below is the complaint letter I sent to Supre today after being contacted by teenage girls concerned about the message their latest tv ad was sending.

When I googled information about Supre it says ' It is family-owned and operated by Hans and Helen van der Meulen, and their three daughters."

If this is the case - they should know better!

If Hans and Helens 'three daughters' are now adults - they should consider how fortunate their daughters were to grow up without the barrage of sexualised and objectified messages young girls cop today.           

See the ad here.

Send your complaint to Supre here.

Complain to the Advertising Standards Board here. (Free TV make it too complicated!)

To the CEO,

Given that your target market is young to mid teen girls surely it's time that you paid attention to the  research and concerns expressed by leading child psychologists.

The current advertisement on TV might look like a bit of fun to your marketing team  - but it is contributing to the continuing onslaught of harmful messages being sent to young girls.

ie: Their value comes from how 'thin, hot and sexy' they are.

Teenage girls alerted me to the ad shown on afternoon television and they were upset at the what message it was sending them and the younger girls watching.

Teenagers are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of anxiety, body image issue and eating disorders - and to this you are contributing.

The recent ad on trams featuring a topless model wearing jeggings is more of the same.

As were the slogans on your t-shirts last year which read -   'Santa's Bitch', Pussy Power' & 'North Pole Dancer.'

Kids Free 2B Kids urges you to care more about your target audience and treat them with the respect and care they deserve.

Proactive action would be a responsible move.

I await your response.

Julie Gale   

Director

kids Free 2B Kids

_______________________________________________________________________________

 Here's the KF2BK complaint to the Advertising Standards Board.

Supre are contributing to the usual message young girls are bombarded with  - that their value and currency comes from how 'thin, hot and sexy' they are.

I was alerted to the ad by teenage girls who were concerned about body image and eating disorders and how the ad contributed to these anxieties. This ad features a stick thin model and features sexualised images of her backside. It might look like 'a bit of fun' - but these messages are harmful and are impacting on the mental health and wellbeing of this generation of young girls.
Supres target audience is young to mid teen girls - it's about time industry took some proactive responsibility for the messages they are sending.

I would assert, as usual, that this ad would not contravene any of the current voluntary code of ethics - and would be most surprised if complaints were upheld...but here's a suggestion....It's time to get with the research and concern from the child psychiatric and child psychology world!!!

 

Read here an article about Child Beauty Pageants by Leslie Cannold.

I am disappointed by Leslie Cannolds article.

There are a number of comments that create a divisive straw man argument.
I have been speaking out about the issue of sexualisation for nearly five years now, and I thought we had put to bed the tiresome and tedious stories  about 'Christians', hysteria and 'hyperbole'.

This reeks of the same 'moral panic' arguments thrown about by a few ill-informed media academics in the early days of campaigning.

Increasing research and concern from leading child development professionals who work at the coal face with kids, informs us that sexualisation is a serious issue about the mental health and wellbeing of children.
We know that a focus on appearance from an early age can lead to anxiety , depression, body image problems and eating disorders.(APA and Tiggeman)

I include child beauty pageants as just one off shoot of the wider cultural issue of sexualisation.
In 2008 Dr Michael Carr Gregg, Dr Joe Tucci (The Australian Childhood Foundation) and Kids Free 2B Kids called for a ban on child beauty pageants.

It is disturbing to read Cannolds stab at psychologists and my guess is - a  very personal
attack on an outspoken campaigner on this issue, who I have worked with many times.

It's difficult to discern what she means by separating the 'hyperbolic wheat from the chaff'.

Who exactly is hyperbolic??

As the Director of Kids Free 2B kids, I have spoken on the same platform as people from different religious, non-religious, political and professional backgrounds.   

In all my years of campaigning I have never come across the so called 'rapacious desire of evangelical Christians to have influence over other people's children'.
I have certainly met with people from a cross section of the community who are deeply concerned about the shrinking of childhood and the adult sexualised culture children are exposed to.

I have been invited to speak about this issue by the Australian Federal Police, The Victorian Law Institute, Universities, School communities and Health Conferences across Australia and internationally.

Kids Free 2B Kids is not associated with any political or religious group -  but has no problem presenting the issue alongside or to, any religious or political group.

As stated in the 2008 Senate Inquiry into the Sexualisation of Children: "This is a community responsibility which demands action by society."

Society.  Surely that means 'everyone.'

I have presented with an array of colleagues who are working hard to help create change for children and quite frankly I have never come across any "religious pseudo-feminists (who) rhapsodise about lost childhood innocence."

I find this comment insulting to the many people speaking out about this issue...who are in fact contributing greatly to change a culture that sexualises and adultifies young girls and boys.   

Leslie Cannold rightly criticises so called 'mummy wars', but it looks like she is caught up in her own one- sided war.

I support anyone, no matter what their personal or political interest is, who has the tenacity and courage to keep speaking out about an issue that is impacting on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young teens...and that includes Child Beauty Pageants.

Let's keep the focus on the aim.

Julie Gale.
  

 

There has been a lot of recent press about General Pants Co stores advertisement featuring a sexualised & objectified image of a women....and their 'I LOVE SEX'  ('and fashion' in small print) badges for staff to wear.     

Read more here at ABC Unleashed.

Kids Free 2B Kids also wrote to General Pants Co. Below is the chain of emails. __________________________________________________________________________________

To the CEO Craig King and Ksubi's communications manager, Gina Nixon.

I am not sure where your marketing team has been the past few years.

Your 'sex' campaign totally ignores research and major concerns in the child development world regarding  the harmful impacts on children from being involuntarily exposed to adult sexualised imagery.

It is extraordinarily unethical marketing to intentionally produce advertising that
sexualises and objectifies the female body and to which children will be exposed.

The campaign is 'fun, modern, cheeky and humorous' for who exactly?

Young men who are force fed a diet of objectified images of women?

This ad campaign is irresponsible and contributes to the sexualisation of children.

FYI here is recommendation no 1 from the2008 senate inquiry into the sexualisation of
children:

Recommendation1:

1.12 The committee considers that the inappropriate sexualisation of children in Australia is of increasing concern.

While noting the complexity of defining clear boundaries around this issue, the committee believes that preventing the premature sexualisation of children is a significant cultural challenge.

This is a community responsibility which demands action by society.

In particular, the onus is on broadcasters, publishers, advertisers, retailers and manufacturers to take account of these community concerns.

* In particular, the onus is on broadcasters, publishers, advertisers, retailers and manufacturers to take account of these community concerns.

Your campaign is a cheap shot at drumming up publicity.  Bear in mind, it is the continuous onslaught of sexualised images kids are bombarded with that is causing harmful impacts...and to that, you have contributed.

Julie Gale

Director

Kids Free 2B kids

_________________________________________________________________________________

Reply: NB A format letter sent to others.

From: Danielle On Behalf Of Editor

Sent: Tuesday, 10 May 2011 11:18 AM

To: julie@kf2bk.com

Subject: RE: General Enquiry from the General Pants Web site: Julie Gale

Hi Julie,

Thank you for taking the time to write to us with your feedback about our recent
Ksubi Sex and Fashion campaign.   

We would like you to know we have read your thoughts and comments and take it on board as we do with all customer and community responses to our marketing campaigns or activities, stores and service.

Although certain details haven't been accurately represented in the press we would like to inform you that this current campaign ceases this Thursday 12^th May and will be replaced with our "winter jackets" window in stores and also across our online channels.

Thank you again,

The team at General Pants Co.

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Danielle,

While I appreciate your email, it is important to Kids Free 2B Kids, that there is an acknowledgment by the company of the concerns raised in my email.

One of the details that I notice hasn't  'been accurately represented in the press' is that your company placed the word 'censored' over the advertisement - when in fact, it was placed on the window in front of the advert - leaving the highly objectified and sexualised image visible.

This recalcitrant behaviour shows a blatant disregard to child development experts and others concerned about the sexualisation of children and the impact of sexualised imagery in public spaces.

Your company have been made aware  that the image used in your campaign would not be acceptable in the 'workplace' and yet the image remained.

Informing me that the 'current campaign ceases this Thursday 12^th May' signals just that - the end of the campaign - it does not show any regard for the harmful impacts or acknowledgement that your company has overstepped a line.

Encouraging your staff to wear 'I love sex' badges shows complete and utter ignorance of the enormous issues surrounding the sexualisation of children and young teenagers today. It truly belies belief.

Your marketing manager ought to spend some time at the coal face working with the likes of Dr Joe Tucci from The Australian Childhood Foundation.

Sitting in ivory towers coming up with so called 'fun, modern and cheeky' campaigns with no regard whatsoever to the impact is one of the very reasons the industry needs to be regulated.

When profiteering and exploitation of staff are prioritised ahead of care and wellbeing - it is very clear there are no protocols in place.

I await acknowledgement of the issues raised in my email.

Regards

Julie Gale

Director

Kids Free 2B Kids

________________________________________________________________________________

The reply is reminiscent of Witchery and Roger David stores who continue to refuse to openly take responsibility for their irresponsibile advertising.

 Send your complaint to General pants Co here.

 

________________________________________________________________________________

 

The Herald Sun has reported a US children's beauty pageant that features on controversial TV show 'Toddlers and Tiaras' is coming to Melbourne.  

There is longstanding and overwhelming opinion in the psychology field that beauty pageants are not in the best interest of healthy child development.

In 2008 psychologist Dr Michael Carr Gregg, Dr Joe Tucci (Australia Childhood Foundation) and Kids Free 2B Kids called for a ban on beauty pageants for children under 14 years.

At the time, Early Childhood Minister Maxine Morand said beauty pageants were 'inappropriate & sent the wrong message' but 'resisted calls to ban them'. Opposition Children and Early Childhood Development spokeswoman Wendy Lovell said she  did not oppose innocent toddler pageants if children were not exploited or sexualised. She said it was a common sense issue and up to parents to decide what was appropriate.

kF2BK believes it is not a 'common sense issue' when child development professionals express major concern and go so far as to call for a ban.

Kids Free 2B Kids believe early childhood ministers should  pay attention to child development experts who prioritise children's best interests  and not  pageant organisers and ego driven parents who have vested interests.

Please sign the petition set up by Collective Shout called  Stop US Child Beauty Pageants in Australia. 

You can also visit the  Australians against child beauty pageants facebook page.

 

Witchery sent this message to a customer who complained about their adultified images of children in the latest catalogue. (For more information about catalogue scroll to previous post)

Witchery is disappointed to learn of your concerns surrounding our WitcheryKids imagery. We take the feedback of our customers very seriously so we thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.

Witchery does not support the "adultification" of children and rejects any suggestion that we would intentionally convey children in this light.

The intention of our current campaign was to portray kids with confidence and individuality which is consistent across our brand vision and product range.

The children featured in the WitcheryKids campaign were able to choose poses on their own accord and were not forced to hold positions that were not natural to them.

All contracts for the models appearing in our campaign were approved through the NSW Children's Guardian, Authority number 00899. The NSW Children's Guardian is a government department set up to promote the best interests and rights of children in out-of-home-care in New South Wales.

The parents or guardians of the children were present at all times during the photo shoot.  

Please ensure your feedback will be taken on board for future campaigns.  

Kind regards,

Cleo  

Witchery Online Customer Service

Last Friday KF2BK Director Julie Gale emailed Witchery this message:  

10/3/2011

Attention Customer Service

To whom it may concern, 

 As the Director of Kids Free 2B Kids I have been inundated with emails from people concerned about the way you have portrayed children in your catalogues.

I notice that complaints were also posted on the Witchery Kids facebook page prior to the article in the Herald Sun this past Monday. I notice the comments page remains disabled.

A person unknown to me emailed your reply  this afternoon. It is easy to reject the notion that you 'intentionally' conveyed children in an adultified way.

Whilst that may be true, it is extraordinary, given the reaction from child advocates and child developmental professionals to your previous catalogue. I also think it's extraordinary that you state the children chose the poses without direction. In my experience photo shoots are highly controlled and managed to the finest detail.

I am fully aware of the role of the NSW Children's Guardian. Kids Free 2B Kids placed an FOI application in 2008 to better understand the process involving children and advertising at the government department. It was revealed that Saatchi and Saatchi (for David Jones) gave the photo shoot directive "They are 10-12years, so slightly more adult and sexy".

That directive passed through the NSW Children's Guardian.

The directive also stated: 'This is a branding exercise for DJ's where we must communicate aspirational kids fashion.

 Last year when Cotton On came under fire for its adult sexualised slogans on children's wear - there was a lot of initial resistance. The CEO eventually called a meeting with me and then invited me to Geelong to meet with the National Clothes buyer.

They understood, after a lot of outcry from the community that they had crossed a line - even tho they were aiming for 'edgy and humorous'. They also withdrew 40,000 items of clothing from their stores Australia wide and put in place protocol that did not previously exist.

Whilst they were initially re-acting - I appreciated their willingness to listen and learn and ultimately take proactive responsibility.

My invitation to the Witchery CEO is to make contact with myself or Dr Michael Carr Gregg to hear the concerns of child development professionals and learn about latest research.

Regards

Julie Gale

Director kids Free 2B Kids

KF2BK is committed to creating standards of responsible advertising and merchandise sensitive to the impacts on children. 

To contact Witchery email customerservice@witchery.com.au