Film Festivals | Movie Reviews | Submit a Title | Jurors | About Us | Contact Us | Home
KIDS FIRST! Home

The Newsstand - KIDS FIRST!® News 2007

KIDS FIRST! Home
 
 

Go to the KIDS FIRST!® Home Page

The Newsstand

Christine Pollock, Newsletter Editor
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken - Oscar Wilde


Subscribe!
Subscribe to our monthly E-Zine to stay up to date on KIDS FIRST!® initiatives. - FREE -

Your e-mail address:



(privacy)


KIDS FIRST!® NEWS 2007
Turning your TV Time into Quality Time
February 6, 2007 Issue #2
Christine L. Pollock, Editor
Ranny Levy, Publisher
kfnews


IN THIS ISSUE
1. Letters from the Editor and President and New Jurors
2. Web Store Features
4. Ann's Avenues
5. Festival Titles
6. New Members/Renewing Members
7. Member News
8. Media News and Contests
9. Family and Parenting News
10. American Political History in Film by Christine L. Pollock
11. Crafts and Activities: Valentines by Dr. Toy and Paper Plate Owl activity
12. Festival City Schedule and Events
13. Special Offers

* Permission to forward or reprint the content herein is granted with complete attribution.

African-American History Highlighted in Film

Filmmaking in the Classroom

Ranny's Therapeutic Film Suggestions

Which Adventure Will You Choose? - Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman

Search 
thousands of great travel deals at KIDS FIRST! Travel


Become an Affiliate of the
KIDS FIRST!® Web Store


The Coalition for Quality Children's Media is a national, not-for-profit organization founded in 1991. Because we believe that media profoundly affect children, our mission is to 1) teach children critical viewing skills and 2) to increase the visibility and availability of quality children's programs.

CQCM Newsletter Archive
2007 Jan 3 / Jan 16

Links to newsletters from 2006 or earlier
can be found at the bottom of this page

Welcome to KIDS FIRST!® NEWS. All articles are by Coalition for Quality Children's Media unless otherwise noted.

Dear Friends,

I just love success stories from people humbly using their talents to bring joy to others. This month I had two delightful interviews for the main article below with men who have done just that. They use their talents and enthusiasm for history and politics to make history come alive for children. I remember when my children and some local children reviewed the titles highlighted in the article. They were completely glued to the set and started asking many questions about US Presidents and senators. It was definitely much more interesting to them than their school textbooks.

As always, I welcome your input. If you have comments on titles we have endorsed; notices of media awards, publications, and products; or suggestions for articles, please drop me a line.

Christine Pollock, Editor

Dear Friends,

This edition of my newsletter is written in memory of my father, Irving Mattson, who passed away this month 29 years ago. I often tell people that when your loved ones pass, they stay with you in a different way, and somehow your life gets bigger. My father made a great impact on my life. I am often reminded of the things he said to us that guide me to this day. As I look to the year ahead of us, he's guided me in my resolutions for the new year.

Topping my list of resolutions is to expand the venues that we take our KIDS FIRST! Film Festival to this year, to personally scout out the best venues on land and on sea for our producers to show their films in the most unique and interesting environments. My Dad always said that every "no" was a firm "maybe," and I'm going to go back out to talk with some of the most prestigious venues who have turned us down in the past. One thing I have learned is that people change and circumstances change. Eight years ago, when we first started the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, we truly didn't have a clue what it could become. Now we do, and I believe that we have some of the best children's films in the world. I want to share them with as many children and families as I can. If you want to join us in making a conscious decision to make a difference in every child's life, then help us out. If you know of an established film festival, a children's museum, an art museum, a non-profit film society, a library, a community organization, a cruse line, or a resort who would love to show KIDS FIRST! films, let me know. Write me at (contact Ranny).

Just a few of the venues that we're already working with in the 2007 calendar include: Calgary International Film Festival, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Newport Beach Film Festival, USA KidFilm Festival, Tiburon International FilmFestival, San Diego County Fair, Denvery Film Society, Durango International Film Festival, Avalon Theater, Delray Beach Film Festival, Miami International Kids Entertainment, Coolidge Corner Theater, Images Cinema, Arts for Range Children, Inc., Brooklyn Children's Museum, Long Island Children's Museum, Children's Museum of Manhattan, and the Belcourt Theater. These venues each hold their own unique appeal. Speaking of unique appeal, we just had two outstanding live appearances this month. Mary Matilyn Mouser, the voice of Eloise appeared at the USA KidFilm in Dallas and Hip Hop Kidz appeared at the Long Island Children's Museum.

Lastly, remember that you can make a donation to KIDS FIRST! simply by booking your travel on our travel website, ytbtravel.com/kidsfirst. We are a member of the YTB Travel Network, which uses the Travelocity search engine so you get the same rate as if you were booking on Travelocity.

Enjoy your month and happy viewing.

Love,

Ranny Levy
Founder and President, KIDS FIRST!®

__________________________________

I just wanted to thank you for your support. We have (happily) been offered and, after some negotiation, signed a distribution contract with Echelon Entertainment. This is the next step in learning about this world. I wanted to thank you for your support. Without (Ranny), and KIDS FIRST!®, I'm not quite sure this would have happened. -Doug Kondziolka, Don Juan and Miguel LLC
__________________________________

We entered 5 Bumblz songs into the International Song Writing competition (in the children's music category) and all 5 have made it through to the next round! Dan and Dag deserve a nice round of applause - regardless of the final results, with over 14,000 entries, the boys are finally getting the industry recognition they deserve. The final results will be in February 1st...wish us luck! Cheers. -Ed.


ONLINE JUROR TRAINING PROGRAM

Concerned about what kids watch? Want to do something about it? Become a KIDS FIRST!® juror. It's easy. Take our online training. It will take you about four hours to complete, and we will provide you with your own personal trainer. The $40 fee is 100% reimbursable once you evaluate six titles for KIDS FIRST!® . You may keep any movie you approve. What a wonderful way for teachers, librarians, parents, and daycare providers to build their own quality media library while helping evaluate movies for others. KIDS FIRST!® Independent Producer members get an additional benefit of one waived submission fee, once they complete the training and evaluate their first 6 titles. To register or get more information, please visit our KIDS FIRST!® juror's page.

KIDS FIRST!® WEB STORE FEATURES
**************************************************

Wai Lana's Little Yogis: Daydream CD. Wai Lana combines ancient yoga relaxation techniques and quiet music to bring a deep sense of calm and inner balance to children. Whether your kids are too active or just need to rest, the Daydream CD will introduce them to the benefits of yoga. Includes two tracks, each containing guided relaxation, original songs, and recordings of ocean waves. From Wai Lana, host of the long-running PBS series Wai Lana Yoga. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Peaceful and nice. Encourages relaxation and imagination; good nap time CD for a daycare or bedtime music. Soothing voice wraps the listener with messages of love and peace. KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments: Put them to sleep. "I like to sleep. It's nice to listen to when I'm going to sleep." "I thought about getting cozy and resting." Found the music pleasing: "The music is haunting." "The lady sings pretty." Audio. 75 mins. Ages 1-5. Wai Lana Productions.



Judy Pancoast: Are We There Yet? Diversified musical styles and clever lyrics will make this CD quickly become a family favorite on car trips and at home. Judy Pancoast performs fourteen original songs from "Monkey Girl" to the award-winning "The Potty Dance." KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Entertaining. Wide range of music, moving between slow and soothing, and fast and catchy. Techno pop, ballads, country, piano boogie, even orchestra. High production quality. Peppy and positive. A few songs have lyrics that imply something else such as: monsters from hell(o). KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments: Almost all of them loved all of the music, listening to it over and over. "There are lots of cool songs, especially 'Monkey Girl'." "It wasn't nice putting a tarantula on his cousin and laughing." 'The Potty' song wasn't respectful, but it was fun." "A little corny." Audio. 48 mins. Ages 3-7. Judy Pancoast.


The Big Space Shuttle. Explores the behind-the-scenes action at the space shuttle program, including the astronaut training, the crew roles, shuttle maintenance and orbital gravity experiments. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: A big hit. Everyone liked the narrator, the backstage look and seeing real astronauts. A look at a topic kids relate to. "It was great to watch with my child, interesting, no violence and a great learning tool," one mom said. KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments: Captured kids' interest and motivated further inquiry into the subject. Kids liked it because it was real. They particularly enjoyed the launch. "Everything in it is great." "I liked seeing the girl scientists." DVD. 50 mins. Ages 6-10. Little Mammoth Media.



Dave & Augie's Home Movies: Theodore Roosevelt. Join Dave, Augie, and Hillary as they travel to Sagamore Hill, the home of Theodore Roosevelt in Oyster Bay, NY. It is here that we learn about our twenty-sixth president and the work he did to make the world a better place. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Wonderful for a history class or documentary screenings. Interesting, good information. Entertaining to most kids and parents as well. Cool muppets. Excellent for President's Day screenings. Lots of information, well presented. Many photos and documents from Theodore Roosevelt's life. KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments: A group of 6 boys, ages 2-9 watched this. All sat through the entire title and talked back to the characters on-screen. Afterwards, they discussed the content as well as what they knew about other presidents. Several said they wanted to visit the president's house. DVD. 30 mins. Ages 5-10. Freggie Entertainment.



Signing Time! Volume 5: ABC Signs. Join Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins, and Signing Time's Rachel Coleman for more "Signing Time" fun! Teaches the alphabet in American Sign Language, and introduces more than 50 signs for words corresponding to different letters. Sign and sing along with the fun and fabulous new songs including: A is For Alex and Alligator; LMNO; Lonely Letter X. Includes ASL tips and a sign-by-sign walk-through of "A is for Alex and Alligator." KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Great presentation. High energy format. It's the alphabet with a sign language twist and a great way to introduce any child to the alphabet. Each letter is repeated several times by the kids. Segments of the alphabet are separated by the ABC song and original songs that review the previous section and keep the viewer's attention. Much more content than can be absorbed in one viewing. KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments: Enjoyed it. Kids had fun singing along and signing. One student wondered why the little girl talked funny, but then she talked with her teacher about it and understood. One three-year-old particularly enjoyed the signs performed by scrunching the fingers together. During the alphabet song, he declared, "I like this." Good humor, danceable music. DVD. 30 mins. Ages 2-5. Two Little Hands Productions.


Braincandy: My 5 Senses. Braincandy is an inventive series that focuses on children learning about themselves and the world through their five senses. Braincandy introduces concepts about the five senses. Original music score. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Novel approach. Effective use of sound effects, music, puppets and live footage. Good visual clarity and light, catchy music. Very conceptual, though the idea of the brain talking to the body parts is beyond the understanding level of the target age group. Slow and somewhat scattered. "Cute puppets - once you get over the idea that one puppet is a brain." KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments: "My daughter enjoyed the puppets. She said they were 'funny.' She laughed and moved to the music, pointed out the children on-screen, and the toys or objects they played with." Others needed explanations. "The only thing my daughter disliked was the brain puppet. She didn't understand what it was doing." All the kids crowded around the screen to see the cookies. DVD. 40 mins. Ages 2-5. Think Film Kids.


ANN'S AVENUES
********************************

KIDS FIRST! Across the Country
Brooklyn Children's Museum - a fun place for kids of all ages.

ABOUT BROOKLYN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM - Founded in 1899

The Brooklyn Children's Museum is well-equipped to provide 21st century learning adventures for growing numbers of children from the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, from the greater New York metropolitan region and beyond. The Museum will be able to serve 400,000 visitors a year - up from 250,000 after expansion which is slated to be completed this year. The Museum will also incorporate the latest innovations in high performance architecture - and is slated to be the first "green" children's museum in the New York City.

More than 800 neighborhood children between the ages of 7 and 18 turn to the Museum Team for a safe, fun and free place to go - and to learn - after school (and on weekends and holidays, too). During winter break, February 19-23rd, KIDS FIRST! is screening the new Hip Hop Kidz "It's A Beautiful Thing" every afternoon at 4:30, and the Hip Hop Kidz dancers will perform live at the Museum on Monday, February 19th at 4 pm.

Of course, film and live performances are great, but students can also become scientists when they visit Brooklyn Children's Museum - and the new, high-performance features in the Museum will give them a firsthand lesson in energy efficiency and environmental conservation as they investigate the building's many "green" features.

For the young set, the innovative Totally Tots program, part of the Museum's Early Learner Initiative for preschoolers, has a new home this year - a 2,500-square-foot gallery with child-powered vehicles and opportunities for caregivers to browse through a range of parenting resources while they encourage their toddlers to get an early start to learning.

Stop in when you are in town. Your kids will love the fun! Visit the calendar of events for more information at www.brooklynkids.org.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
145 Brooklyn Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Phone: 718-735-4400

If you know of another great location that should be screening KIDS FIRST! titles, drop me an email, and I will send you a free copy of my latest favorite KIDS FIRST! festival title.

Ann Church

SELECTIONS FROM KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival 2007
****************************************************************************************************************
For a complete list of all Festival titles currently being shown, visit our website.


Dora: Musical School Days. L. 98 Mins.
Dora the Explorer is taking you on a musical adventure in her new release, "Musical School Days" featuring the never-before-seen episode, "La Meastra de Musica"! In this new adventure you help Boots' teacher get to school on time to greet her students with a song, learn new Spanish words, cheer up the Grumpy Old Troll and help Dora and Boots deliver mail! English, French dubbed, Spanish dubbed. Age 2-5. Paramount Home Entertainment.



 

Backyardigans: The Legend of the Volcano Sisters. L. 99 mins.
The Luau Brothers (Tyrone, Pablo and Austin), must bring a special gift to the Volcano Sisters (Uniqua and Tasha), in order to stop a volcano from erupting and ruining their luau. Includes three other episodes: "The Swamp Creature," "Horsing Around" and "Special Delivery." Bonus features include an interactive "Secret Agent" dance-along video with Uniqua, and a 'sneak peek' of The Wonder Pets! English, French Dubbed. Age 2-5. Paramount Home Entertainment.

 

 


Nashe Maalo: Home.
L. 28 mins
Elvis becomes friends with the orphan, David, after they break a window. Angry that his parents won't adopt David, Elvis finds him a small room to live in. In his efforts to help David, however, Elvis hasn't really been listening to his friend's needs. Age 12-18 Search for Common Ground.

 

 

 


Whale Sharks of Hollbox.
L. 5 mins.
The islanders of Holbox, Mexico, facing a dwindling supply of fish, have successfully converted their economy to ecotourism. In doing so, they have helped protect the world's largest fish, the Whale Shark. Ages: 8-18. Student Production; Highschool Edition - Mike Wham.


 

 

NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS
***************************************************

Big Red Frog is a company that has been born out of a merging of three separate business partners, with different talents and methods - but the very same vision. Passionate about life, all three partners, whose separate businesses were in fitness, television, sponsorship, design and marketing, are now unified and dedicated to the message of well-being for all. The 'frog' is the "Lifestyle Entertainment Amphibian" - engaged in the creation, production & marketing of innovative entertainment content and products across several platforms. Focusing on kids, family and the young at heart, the genres most pertinent to the big red frog team are health, the fight against obesity, fitness, food, adventure, fun, sport and leisure. Brand led and content driven, the company is focused on high-end production, innovative approaches and unique creative projects within the 'Lifestyle' genre.

Snigglezoo Entertainment produces "The Money Mammals," which teaches kids 2-6 about the value of money. Kids learn to "Share & Save & Spend Smart Too!"

Storytellin' Time welcomes you to a world of storytelling for young and old where you can learn to enjoy and foster a love of story using props, puppets and storytelling resources.

WonderWorld Films is a film and video production company specializing in poetry on video.


MEMBER NEWS
****************************************************

Congratulations to Author/illustrator Mo Willems and Weston Woods Studios
Knuffle Bunny, the DVD is based on Willems' book Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video.

Congratulations to Al Gore
Al Gore has received a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize and his KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival Title, An Inconvenient Truth, on the perils of global warming, scored two Oscar nominations — for best documentary feature and best original song. "I am so grateful to the entire team and pleased that the Academy has recognized their work. This film proves that movies really can make a difference." - Al Gore

Congratulations to Karma Cafe
Karma Cafe received several awards recently...best short (Flickering Image film Festival), honorable mention (Beverly Hills hi-def Film Festival), and honorable mention (Smogdance Film Festival).

Congratulations to Binta and the Great Idea
These are the first Academy Award nominations for Javier Fesser and Luis Manso. Read More

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Unveils Zoom: Academy for Superheroes on DVD February 13, 2007.
Leaping in a single bound from the graphic novel to the silver screen, starring Tim Allen (The Santa Clause films, Galaxy Quest), Courtney Cox (TV¹s ³Friends,² Scream
1, 2 and 3), Chevy Chase (National Lampoon¹s Vacation), and Spencer Breslin (TV¹s ³Two and a Half Men,² The Shaggy Dog), Zoom: Academy for Superheroes promises thrills, justice, and family fun for all!

NEST Family Learning ™ And Discovery Education Team Up To Engage Students With Video Content In The Classroom
This partnership will provide more than 30 million teachers and students across the country with NEST ™ learning tools through the Discovery Education unitedstreaming online digital service. Discovery Education unitedstreaming will add The Animated Hero Classic collection from NEST™to its digital media library of more than 4,500 full-length educational videos. The animated stories will be divided into content-specific segments and made available for streaming into schools and libraries across America.


MEDIA NEWS and CONTESTS
********************************************

National Student Television Awards - Deadline February 16th
All entries must have been originally broadcast, cablecast or webcast within the National Awards Eligibility Period from February 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007. Applicants must be currently enrolled as a full time student as of the application deadline (Feb 16, 2007). The seven Award for Excellence categories include (1) News, (2) Arts & Entertainment/Cultural Affairs, (3) Documentary, (4) Sports, (5) Hubbard Family Public Affairs/Community Service/Public Service, (6) Technical Achievement, and (7) Writing. For more information visit: www.nationalstudent.tv

DreamWorks Animation and Wallace & Gromit Creators, Aardman Animations, Split
The split appears to be mutual with both sides acknowledging their success and owning up to their differences. Read More

Sidney Sheldon Passed Away
During his extensive career he wrote several Broadway musicals, screenplays and televisions series, in addition to a multitude of novels. His television career included producer of The Patty Duke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, and Hart to Hart, in addition to a number of his novels produced as made-for TV movies including Rage of Angels, Bloodline and Memories of Midnight. Read More

American Library Association announces literary award winners.


FAMILY AND PARENTING NEWS
********************************************

Check out Photos From Mary Maitlin Mouser's Visit to USA KidFilm in Dallas
http://www.kidsfirst.org/kidsfirst/html/press.htm

PBS Kids Sprout Celebrates Valentine's Day
Sprout's Special Valentine Delivery will be a 12-hour event on Wednesday, February 14, 6a-6p.

Current Events for Your Children
NEWS FLASH FIVE, a pioneering Web site to encourage 8-11 year-olds to learn about current events, and bring them a fresh way of receiving — and reporting —news online. The announcement was made at the Television Critics Association Press Tour.

******************************************

American Political History in Film by Christine L. Pollock

How does one make politics and history exciting and inspiring for children? Filmmakers Mike Hazard, The Magic Green School Bus: Paul Wellstone, and Gregory Ciano,Dave and Augie's Home Movies, have figured out the magic formula in their popular films and are willing to share it with you. Make the children active participants.

Hazard was a student in former Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone's college class and was inspired by this common man who turned into a politician for the good of the people. When the Senator’s career was cut short by a tragic airplane crash, Hazard decided to do a film as a eulogy. He contacted Mindy Holte, a teacher at Lake Country school, a Montessori school, realizing that students could tell the story as nobody else could.

Before filming, only one or two children in the class had ever heard about Paul Wellstone. Holpy began reading excerpts from Wellstone’s book, “The Conscience of a Liberal” to acquaint them with Wellstone. The students revolted, asking to hear the entire book. They learned that in politics, and in person, Wellstone believed one achieves power by being nonpartisan.

As Hazard worked with the students, he discovered that the project resonated in unexpected ways. More students were interested in running for the student council. One student decided she wants to run for President and realizes that she was born in Korea, she needs to change the Constitution first. Another student stated that he learned to respect political parties other than his own. He was inspired by the way Wellstone worked for what he wanted.

Overall, kids got the belief/feeling that they could change the way things are and they want to make changes. They found their film deeply touched other kids, perhaps because it was made by kids. Hazard feels that everybody needs the positive message of the film. Apparently, the twin cities PBS station agreed because they showed the film on Sunday, February 4, 2007.

As Hazard coaches children in the art of filmmaking, Ciano entertains and educates children with a talent he cultivated as a child himself -- puppetry. In 1999, Ciano founded Freggie Entertainment, wanting to make history exciting. As a self-trained puppeteer and filmmaker, Ciano remembers the days of building his first puppets by himself and filming his first projects with his home camcorder.

Now, two of Ciano’s titles, Ben Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt, have premiered in the KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival, and he is also entering an agreement that will allow KIDS FIRST to represent him as an agent with television programming directors and such.

Both Ciano and Hazard found that using film to make history and politics interesting for children had the additional bonus of inspiring them personally. An important lesson Ciano learned while working on his current film, based on the life of George Washington, is to never give up. Washington nearly broke down when a group of soldiers almost ruined their sneak attack while crossing to Trenton. Washington lost his cool, as humans do, but quickly pulled back together and marched on to win the war. Hazard finds reaffirmation in his mission of filmmaking with students in comments such as the one Howard Zinn, historian, states about his film, “…It is a good example of how to take a subject that at first glance seems rather dull, and invest it with vitality, humor, inspiration, without sacrificing serious ideas."

*******************************************
CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

Dr. Toy's Tips on Use of Video by Stevanne Auerbach, PhD. /Dr.Toy
www.drtoy.com Smart Play /Smart Toys (www.educationalinsights.com)

Valentines
Showing affection is important for children. Children easily communicate often and happily with teddy bears, soft dolls, or other plush friends. When they are ready and old enough to take on the responsibility, another good way to express affection and practice responsibility is to learn to care for pets. Be sure to monitor this activity to assure the pet is being well cared for and the child is showing plenty of affection. In each of these areas you can help your child by using media like videos and CDs to complement all these activities. A great KIDS FIRST!® title that demonstrates this is Strawberry Shortcake: Best Pets Yet.

 

 

Craft - Paper Plate Owl. -- Not really a pet, but instills an appreciation of animals.

Materials: Paper plate, 2 buttons for eyes (or circles of construction paper), scissors, stapler or tape, brown construction paper

For instructions, go to craft page.

 

KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival Schedule
********************************************************************

Films from our KIDS FIRST!® Film Festivals travel around the country where more than 100 local venues host screenings of them throughout the year. More than 10,000 screenings will take place in these venues annually. To find out what is being played in a venue near you, go to www.kidsfirst.org/fest.


Other Events

February 16th Deadline. National Student Television Awards. All entries must have been originally broadcast, cablecast or webcast within the National Awards Eligibility Period from February 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007. Applicants must be currently enrolled as a full time student as of the application deadline (Feb 16, 2007) Read More.

March 24-28, 2007. Johannesburg, South Africa. 5th World Summit on Media for Children 2007, Media as a Tool for Global Peace and Democracy. The Children and Broadcasting Foundation for Africa (CBFA) is to host the 5th World Summit on Media for Children. The event is expected to bring together around one thousand delegates plus some 300 teenagers. Unlike past Summits on Media for Children, the youngsters will be taking official part in the main plenary sessions.

March 30. University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. The theme of the 5th Annual Northeast Media Literacy Conference is "The Mass Media, Children, and Values." Description: "The growing media literacy movement has helped children and youth to become more media literate for many years now, with a major emphasis upon accessing, analyzing, and evaluating the many complex messages presented through the mass media, particularly advertising in its many forms and formats. The rapid spread of new technology devices and techniques have had a great impact upon the types and extent of mass media exposure in today’s youth culture, including cell phones, voice and text messaging, ipods, blogs, MySpace, Facebook, ebay, video games, etc. But what impact has all of this mass media exposure and technology had on children and youth in terms of their thinking, choices, priorities, actions…and their values?"

June 23-27. St. Louis, Missouri. The biannual National Media Education Conference (NMEC), hosted by the Alliance for a Media Literate America, is the largest, oldest and most comprehensive professional conference for teachers, academics, youth advocates, health professionals and media activists to learn about media literacy education. The first annual Media Literacy Education Research Summit is a pre-conference event held June 23 and 24, immediately prior to the NMEC. The Summit will host an international group of experts from a diverse array of fields who will convene to review the existing research evidence about the efficacy of media literacy education and to develop a research agenda for the future.

July 9-13, 2007. Ithaca, NY. Project Look Sharp is offering its 9th annual summer institute. This 5-day intensive media literacy workshop includes both the theory of media literacy and hands-on practice with digital/computer technology (Mac-based). The institute takes place on the campus of Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York, and inexpensive on-campus housing is available. Limit of 18 participants. More information.

SPECIAL OFFERS:

KIDS FIRST!® Cares
Through the combined efforts of Corporations for Character, KIDS FIRST!®, and your generous donation, we can fulfill our mission to provide positive, encouraging movies into each of more than one million children's hospital beds. This effort will provide entertainment for children while they are confined in a hospital. To support KIDS FIRST!® Cares, go to www.kidsfirstcares.org. All credit card transactions are secure.

********************************************************************
Become a Coalition for Quality Children's Media Member

If you've found our e-zine and web site helpful, please consider becoming a member of KIDS FIRST!® Members help underwrite the various projects of this organization. The Coalition for Quality Children's Media relies on the generous support of its members and donors to support its programs. An individual/family membership is only $25/year. An organizational membership is $100/year. An independent producer membership is $200. To join, go to: http://www.kidsfirst.org or contact our office at 505.989.8076 or KIDS FIRST!®.

VISIT OUR MEMBERS' SITES ******************
Please visit our website for an up-to-date list of Coalition members by clicking here: http://www.kidsfirst.org/kidsfirst/html/whomem.htm.

IF YOU FIND THIS NEWSLETTER USEFUL ... FORWARD IT TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY ****************

This newsletter may be reprinted with permission.
Copyright 2002 by Coalition for Quality Children's Media, http://www.kidsfirst.org

ABOUT CQCM AND KIDS FIRST!®
******************************************
KIDS FIRST!® is the not-for-profit Coalition for Quality Children's Media's initiative that evaluates and rates children's media - videotapes, CD-ROMs and television - using a highly acclaimed method that has been praised by parents and educators alike. It utilizes professionally designed criteria and evaluation tools and engages a volunteer jury comprising child development professionals, teachers and parents nationwide and children of diverse geographic, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. KIDS FIRST!® endorsed titles appeal to people around the world and include many programs on topics important to children's development. KIDS FIRST!® -endorsed titles are available on CQCM's award-winning Internet site, in the KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival and in reviews we provide to more than 75 publications.

CQCM evaluates feature films, television programs, videos, CD-ROM, DVDs and audio recordings. For an application form and application deadlines, visit our website at http://www.kidsfirst.org, call our office (505.989.8076).
Coalition for Quality Children's Media, 112 W. San Francisco St. , Suite 305A, Santa Fe, NM 87501.

Subscribe to KIDS FIRST! free monthly e-zine for news and specials: