WASHINGTON, DC (September 30, 2010): Today, The Creative Coalition announced production of a new PSA campaign, Watch What You Watch. The campaign is designed to jumpstart a national media literacy initiative for youth and is spearheaded by the Girl Scouts of the USA with support from The Creative Coalition, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, and the National Association of Broadcasters.
Watch What You Watch is a groundbreaking, edgy campaign featuring some of today’s most well-known personalities reminding us to be discriminating media consumers.
Watch What You Watch breaks nationally in October, and encourages children, parents and caregivers to pay attention to the media images that are influencing the nation’s youth. Watch What You Watch is directed by actor and Co-President of The Creative Coalition Tim Daly.
“It is our goal to remind the public to think critically about the media they consume and to encourage content providers to be responsible about messaging, particularly as it relates to young women. It’s our hope that Watch What You Watch will be a catalyst to encourage policymakers, community leaders, parents, educators, and media providers to support media literacy and promote dialogue about the challenges of navigating media in the 21st century,” said Mr. Daly.
The PSA features actors Felicity Huffman (“Desperate Housewives”), Emmanuelle Chriqui(“Entourage”), Andrea Bowen (“Desperate Housewives”), Seth Green (“Family Guy”), Rachael Leigh Cook (Josie and the Pussycats), Kaycee Stroh (High School Musical), Kathryn Joosten (“Desperate Housewives”), Carrie Ann Inaba (“Dancing With The Stars”), Teri Polo (Meet the Parents), Shay Mitchell (“Pretty Little Liars”), Ayla Kell (“Make it or Break it”), Josie Loren (“Make it or Break it”),Vanessa Lengies (Stick It), Rachel Blanchard (“The Flight of the Concords”), Brooke Nevin(“Imaginary Bitches”), Lisa Gay Hamilton (“The Practice”) and recording artist Chuck D.
You can view the Watch What You Watch PSA at http://vimeo.com/15611167 or at http://vimeo.com/15611261.
Laurie Westley, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Advocacy, and the Research Institute of Girl Scouts of the USA said, “Watch What You Watch will be the cornerstone of a national campaign to promote healthy and positive messages about girls and women in the media. Girls in particular struggle throughout their lives with how to reconcile the images portrayed in the media with their own body image, self worth and potential.”
“We strongly support media literacy as a tool to help families better manage and understand the flow of media into their homes,” said Rob Stoddard, Senior Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs, National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). “We feel privileged to work jointly with The Creative Coalition, the Girl Scouts, and our colleagues in broadcasting to put a spotlight on healthy media images for young people, and to emphasize the merits of media literacy as we do in this public service message.”
“NAB is pleased to support the Watch What You Watch campaign,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “Local broadcasters recognize the importance of ensuring a positive media environment for children, and we look forward to working with our partnering organizations to further this worthy goal.”
Watch What You Watch will be unveiled at next week’s National Healthy Media for Youth Summit hosted by Girl Scouts of the USA, National Association of Broadcasters, National Cable and Telecommunications Association, and The Creative Coalition. The Summit takes place in Washington, DC (Capitol Visitors Center) on October 6th and brings together leaders from the entertainment, policy, and education communities. To register for the Summit please visithttp://healthymediaforyouth.eventbrite.com
ABOUT THE CREATIVE COALITION http://www.TheCreativeCoalition.org
The Creative Coalition is the premiere 501(C)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating and mobilizing its members on issues of public importance, particularly in the areas of public education, arts advocacy and First Amendment rights.
ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.4 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls’ healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls living overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org .
ABOUT NCTA http://www.ncta.com
NCTA is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation’s cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. The cable industry is the nation’s largest broadband provider of high-speed Internet access, serving more than 41 million customers, after investing more than $160 billion to build a two-way interactive network with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide state-of-the-art digital telephone service to more than 22 million American consumers.
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.
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Press Contact
Dennis St. Rose, The Creative Coalition, 212-512-8570
DStRose@TheCreativeCoalition.org
Tracy Pendleton, FMPR, 323-957-2700
Tracy@FMPR.TV