Essay About Support Forum And Parenting Education

How Does Media Affect Children
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Family Viewing
A report on parents, children and the media
by Lucy McCarraher
for the Parenting Education & Support Forum
in association with the NSPCC, Family Circle magazine and Glasgow Media Group
Parenting Education & Support Forum
The Parenting Education & Support Forum brings together those concerned with or working
in the field of preparation, education and support for parents. It promotes and maintains a
high profile for parenting education and support, where education means learning in the
fullest sense: of growing in knowledge, skills, understanding and personal development. The
Forum presses for effective policies and practice at local and national level — with the aim of
serving the best interests of all children and their families.
The Forum’s five working groups — on training and accreditation, media, research and evaluation,
inter-agency collaboration, and parenting education in schools — explore current issues
and develop guidelines and projects. Regular seminars provide the opportunity for debate and
information exchange.
A quarterly newsletter published by the Forum features articles on issues of practice in work
with parents and families, book reviews, information on research and evaluation and on forthcoming
events and conferences.
Produced by National Children’s Bureau Enterprises Ltd, the trading company for the National Children’s
Bureau, 8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE. Registered Charity Number 258825
Щ Parenting Education & Support Forum, September 1998
Printed by MCP Litho, London.
Family Viewing
A report of the research project into
parents, children and the media
researched and written by
Lucy McCarraher
study initiated and managed by
Eileen Hayes, Parenting Advisor, NSPCC
and Chair, Parenting and Media Working Group,
Parenting Education & Support Forum
survey questionnaire devised by
Lucy McCarraher, Greg Philo, Glasgow Media Group
and Gillian Drummond, Family Circle magazine
survey analysis by
Glasgow Media Group
survey questionnaire published in
the May 1998 issue and results published in the
November 1998 issue of Family Circle magazine
published by
PARENTING
EDUCATION
& SUPPORT
F O R U M
Contents
Foreword
Key messages
Children and the media
Parents and the media
1. Children and the media
Pressure to buy
Influencing behaviour and attitudes
2. Parents and the media
Television and radio
Magazines and newspapers
Role models
Wish list
3. Conclusions
The media and children
The media and parents
4. Recommendations
To Government
To broadcasters and publishers
Appendix
Methodology and sample
Researcher and author
Questionnaire
References
Foreword
I have never had any doubt about the power of the mass media to shape attitudes and possibly
even influence behaviours. I have experienced many times the impact on the public of a radio
or television appearance, translated into enquiries and requests for information. I have been
involved over the past few years in trying to persuade the media to carry more information and
support for parents, as a writer and frequent broadcaster in the field, in my role as Parenting
Advisor to the NSPCC and most recently as Chair of the Parenting Education & Support
Forum’s Media and Parenting Group. This working group, one of several in the PESF, was
launched in 1996 by a seminar at the NSPCC which was well attended