BUILDING A GEEK MEDIA SHELTER
Professional media organizations accept a growing share of responsibility for the influence they wield in our culture and specifically the power they exert over the next generation. Organizations dedicated to protecting and supporting children also realize that our modern media can benefit our children, but it also poses serious risks. Harnessing the power of media is a message that author/speaker Marybeth Hicks frequently discusses as she encourages both media organizations and child advocates to take action on behalf of our children.
While accepting that media is a fact of life for today’s children, Marybeth believes that adults need to protect them from its overarching messages about violence, sex, materialism and self-centeredness. Only by promoting more positive messages and more responsible use of media will we protect childhood innocence and help kids develop positive attitudes rather than the cynical and even jaded world views promoted in the popular media.
Marybeth is available to speak to media groups and professional conferences to offer incentives and ideas for protecting kids in today’s media saturated world, while also offering ways to use media wisely.
TOPICS ON MEDIA INCLUDE:
- Why sheltering children from the popular culture and media makes you a GEEK
- How to manage access to media and gadgets – Building a “GEEK Media Shelter”
- What the media says about teenagers – 5 myths about teens in the culture of cool
- The truth about “tweens” – marketing and its impact on children 8 to 12
- Reality and risks – why exposure to media and pop culture hurts young teens
- The hyper-sexualization of children – mixed messages in a dangerous culture
- Materialism, consumerism and fame – what drives kids today
WHAT MEDIA EXPERTS ARE SAYING
“Today’s popular culture is robbing from an entire generation of children their most treasured possession – the sweet innocence of youth... [The media message of] Bringing up Geeks is a breath of fresh air, and we owe Marybeth Hicks a debt of gratitude. It’s required reading for any parent struggling to raise a child in a society that’s lost its moral compass.”
L. Brent Bozell, President, Media Research Center
and founder of the Parents Television Council