Empowering Parents: TV Literacy and the Violence Factor

• NCJ Number: 150881
• Author(s): B A Eisenstock
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 33 pages
• Corporate Author: California State University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This paper was presented at the International Conference on Violence in the Media: Prospects for Change, held on October 3-4, 1994, in New York City. The conference was sponsored by St. John's University.

Annotation

The role of parents in mitigating the impact of violence on television is explored.

Abstract

This paper examines representative television literacy strategies developed for parents to mediate television violence. Salient characteristics of recommendations, guidelines and activities are described. The potential effectiveness of parental intervention is discussed within the context of communication research findings on children and television. Specifically, background on relevant factors related to the media literacy approach and to parental guidance is provided to better understand the feasibility of empowering parents. The underlying assumption of the media literacy approach is that just as children need to be taught print literacy, i.e., how to read and write, so do children need to be taught media literacy, i.e., how to use television and other electronic media. Children who are taught media literacy will be less vulnerable to the negative consequences and will optimize the positive benefits of television. Parents must assume a role in this educational process. A review of the research on parental guidance of children's viewing is provided. The results of a review of television literacy resources for parents, including books, manuals, guides, pamphlets, and other materials used in television literacy workshops for parents, are discussed. Prerequisites to parental intervention are identified. The author concludes by stating that before parents can be motivated to empower themselves, there needs to be a more concerted effort to inform and educate parents about television's impact and the action they can take to use television to their children's best advantage. Also, additional research is needed to identify not only effective ways to involve parents in the television literacy process, but also successful strategies to mediate the effects of television violence beyond what is already known about parental guidance and the home viewing environment. Four tables provide guidelines concerning parental intervention techniques before, during, and after viewing, as well as specific guidelines concerning parental intervention and television news. Notes, bibliography