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Media Matters:
A National Media Education Campaign
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Campaign Overview
Media Matters is a national public education campaign of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It was launched in 1997 to help pediatricians, parents, and children become more aware of the influence that media (television, movies, computer and video games, Internet, advertising, popular music, etc.) have on child and adolescent health. Issues of concern include the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs; aggression and violence; sex and sexual exploitation; obesity and poor nutrition. Media Matters advocates for media education, or learning how to analyze the media through critical thinking and viewing, as a way to mitigate these problems.
As pediatricians, the Academy's 55,000 members are in a unique position to relay information about media to parents and children. During an office visit they can discuss the issue of media use with parents and children, and distribute relevant public education materials. Pediatricians also often speak at schools, hospitals, professional meetings, parent groups, and to the news media. They have a powerful voice in communicating information about media effects and other health issues.
Campaign Materials
The American Academy of Pediatrics? guide, Media Education in the Practice Setting (Adobe PDF File - 189K)
, helps pediatricians integrate discussion and education about media into their practices. The Media History Form that accompanies the guide enables pediatricians to identify potential behavioral risk areas associated with a child's media use simply by looking at the responses parents give to specific questions.
The Media Matters Resource Kit, which is now provided through the contents of this Web site, contains articles, policy statements,
resource lists, and background materials on media and related health issues.
Education and Training
Ongoing education is a critical part of Media Matters. Past Media Matters Leadership Training Conferences have offered instruction on youth substance abuse and the influence of the media. The Academy is providing ongoing support for trainees as they work with parents, teachers, children, schools, legislators, and media to help people become media educated. Pediatricians at several district (regional) and chapter (state) meetings also participate in media education training. The Academy continues to offer workshops at its national meetings and at other organizations, such as the American Public Health Association, the American School Health Association, and the National Media Education Conference.
The campaign has generated numerous articles in AAP News as well as coverage in other national publications, such as The New York Times and USA Today. The Academy recently published a policy statement on media education that demonstrates ways in which the medical community can address the issue of media's impact on public health. This is the Academy's sixth policy statement concerning the media.
For additional information on the AAP Media Matters campaign, please contact: mediamatters@aap.org
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