Dear colleagues - please take a look at this new newsletter from the Children's Media Foundation (formerly Save Kids TV and the CHildren's FIlm Foundation). Consider supporting it, and also using the issues they raise in teaching and research,
best wishes
Máire MD
Máire Messenger Davies, PhD, FRSA, MBPsS,
Professor of Media Studies, Centre for Media Research,
School of Media, Film and Journalism
University of Ulster, Cromore Rd,
Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland,UK
http://cmr.ulster.ac.uk
twitter:@mairemd
email: [log in to unmask]
office telephone: +44(0)2870124069LATEST BOOK - 'Children, Media & Culture' http://www.openup.co.uk/children_media
MECCSA 2013 'SPACES & PLACES OF CULTURE' - SEE http://www.arts.ulster.ac.uk/meccsa2013/index.php
-----Original Message-----
From: The Children's Media Foundation on behalf of The Children's Media Foundation
Sent: Fri 9/28/2012 4:00 PM
To: Mire Messenger Davies
Subject: The Children's Media Foundation - September 2012
The Children's Media Foundation (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org)
Sound Foundations Welcome to the first Children's Media Foundation newsletter
You've received this email as you were previously a subscriber to the Save Kids' TV e-bulletin, or because you've signed up on the CMF website www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org ) .
This newsletter will be delivered monthly from now on. We hope you'll find it of value.
What is the CMF?
A new organisation built on the solid foundations of the Save Kids' TV campaign and the Children's Film and Television Foundation - both bodies dedicated to safeguarding the quality and range of media for kids in the UK, both committed to British production, and both focused on getting a better deal for the young audience.
The Children's Media Foundation takes these aims further. It's purposes are outlined in detail on our website (http://http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wordpress/about-us) . In summary, we are an organisation focused on the children's and youth audience which plans to build relationships between the key contributors to kids' media experiences, while also growing awareness amongst parents, the public, the press and politicians. We aim to develop better understanding amongst all these groups of the issues kids face in their use of media, and the issues the children's media industry faces in carrying out their role to the highest possible standards. To achieve this we plan to stimulate and participate in debate around those issues, with the discussion informed by research and reason, rather than panic and stereotyping.
We will work to create connections between academic and commercial research practitioners, the media industry, regulators, policy makers, parents and the kids themselves to make ours the best informed media landscape for children and young people in the world.
Media of all forms, on all platforms, is a powerful influence on the lives of young people. We believe kids can grow up as engaged and enlightened citizens when the media they consume has local relevance, is well produced, well-funded, supported by focused research and understood better by the powers that shape kids' lives.
We will set the agenda for the future of media for children in the UK, keep a watchful eye on policy decisions, industry practices, and content and consumption trends, blow the whistle or campaign where needed and support other campaigns where they benefit the children's audience.
And we'd like you to join us. To express your support for the CMF, as an individual or a company/organisation, please visit our support page (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wordpress/my-membership-options-page) online.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nine Months in the Making
Sorry we've been so silent. Since Save Kids' TV closed its doors at the very end of 2011, there have been nine months of planning and preparation. Now the new organisation is ready to launch.
What's Been Going On?
* We merged the two organisations (SKTV & CFTF) in the early part of 2012, as a not-for-profit company - The Children's Media Foundation. We also set up a new Board (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wordpress/about-us/board) and organised a series of Working Groups under expert and enthusiastic leaders, who form our Executive Committee (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wordpress/about-us/executive-committee) . They advise on policy and activity plans.
* We conducted a wide consultation on proposals for the new organisation, its structure and funding model.
* We set up and now formally run the All Party Parliamentary Group on Children's Media and the Arts. Prominent Parliamentarians have been elected to officer roles and it's met on three occasions already, following the same agenda as CMF - using research and expert insight to inform decision-makers. (M (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wordpress/about-us/appg) ore news on the APPG here (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wordpress/about-us/appg) )
* In April 2012 The Board appointed Greg Childs as the first Director of the Children's Media Foundation. Greg is working with the Executive Committee members to pursue their action plans and has taken on an administrator to help run the organisation. Greg can be contacted at: [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask])
* We created a new website (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org) with ambitious plans to develop its potential as a research database, and a tool for archivists and media educators.
* In July the BFI released the first in a series of DVD's of films from the Children's Film Foundation archive (one of our predecessor organisations). It can be purchased on the BFI website (http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/BFI_Filmstore_Family_Films_42.html) . More releases will follow.
* We continued our support for certain key campains. Save Kids' TV donated to Animation UK (http://www.animationuk.org) to help develop a comprehensive report on the business and economic impacts of a tax-break for animation made in Britain. The All Party Group welcomed representatives of the animation industry - including Wallace and Gromit - to the Houses of Parliament just before the April Budget in which the Chancellor announced plans for a tax incentive. We are now contribuing to the Treasury consultation on firming up the plans.
* We also opened up new campaign fronts of our own. The Smith Report (http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/media_releases/8779.aspx) on the future of British film specifically mentioned the need to stimulate children's and family film production in the UK (something we pushed for in the report's consultation stage), we have recently consulted with the BFI on how best to create the conditions to achieve more independent chidlren's and family movies made here in the UK and we'll pursue this as a priority.
* We've signed up four "Founding Patrons (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wordpress/about-us/patrons) " who are kick-starting the organisation with financial and moral support. If you'd like to support us too - you'd be very welcome. You can sign up here (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wordpress/my-membership-options-page) .
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Our Founder Patrons
The Children's Media Foundation is thrilled to be able to announce the first four Founder Patrons to have pledged their long-term support for the new organisation and its aims.
Philip Pullman World-renowned author Philip Pullman is pasionate about the quality of content delivered to children. A supporter of the Save Kids' TV Campaign for the last six years, he believes: "Children need the best of everything..."
Anne Wood
Anne Wood is the creator of Teletubbies, In the Night Garden and a host of other television favourites for younger
children. She has been a passionate supporter of well-funded quality content for children and a great believer in the value of research in programme development.
Anna Home O.B.E. Anna Home is the Chair of the Children's Media Foundation Board and the Board of the Children's Media Conference, which aims to bring together media-practitioners from across all disciplines to share thier best endeavours. As a children's programme-maker who started in the launch team of the iconic Play School programme, and went on to produce and then commission some of the key series which have shaped children's television in the UK - including Jackanory, The Chronicles of Narnia, Grange Hill and Teletubbies - Anna is committing herself once again to campaigning for the very best for UK kids.
Russell T Davies The revival of Dr Who under his leadeship and its focus on the children's and family audience provide clues to Russell T Davies's early background as a writer of children's television. Russell remains committed to this audience and the proof is the recent Sarah Jane Adventures on CBBC. He believes the new Foundation is an opportunity for programme-makers to gain support to achieve their best when making content for kids.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What the Future Holds
* We are keeping a close eye on Government plans in the Communications Bill, on the film funding issue, on the progress to reduce the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood, on internet security issues and on social media marketing to kids. They're hot topics.
* We'll be pursuing a revised version of the original SKTV proposal for a funded commissioning body to provide an alternative to the BBC, delivering UK-produced drama, factual and entertainment via video-on-demand. We plan to push this as a driver for UK creative industries as growth returns to the economy.
* CMF will stage its first public debate on a key kids' media issue in November, in partnership withe Voice of the Listener and Viewer - watch this space for venue, speaker and topics.
* The Research relationship (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wordpress/research) is developing. The CMF is partnering on several bids for academic research funding, and the working group is growing as we bring University and Commercial researchers closer together. Colin Ward (mailto:[log in to unmask]) is keen to hear from you if you have contributions to make to the Research Group.
* The Media Literacy Group met informally at the Children's Media Conference in July. They will be keeping a close eye on BFI plans for centralising in one body all Film Education functions - including educating children on watching, appreciating and making films.
* The Children's Media Yearbook 2012-13 will be published in December, and annually thereafter. It will feature opinion, research, analysis, trends, predictions, reports from regulators and interesting articles by children's content makers. It will be a comprehensive guide to everything that matters in Children's Media, across the age-ranges, platforms, and genres.
* At the launch of the Yearbook in December we're planning a social event at which Supporters, Patrons, and contributiors can meet and get to know one another. Plans are already under way - watch this space!
And you can have access to all these events at dicsounted prices and the Yearbook for free, if you sign up as a CMF Supporter, Patron or Corporate Supporter.
Find out how - and discover the range of benefits on offer at: http://thechildrensmediafoundation.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=059778bf9963e6cb8ee4e0fdb&id=1531a9e618&e=58437aab80 (http://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wordpress/my-membership-options-page)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Children's Arts AwardsOur partner organisation in the All Party Parliamentary Group, Action for Children's Arts, holds an annual awards ceremony which honours not only key contributors to the children's arts scene, but also one individual who's body of work will have a lasting effect.
The J M Barrie Award for lifetime achievement goes this year to Baroness Floeella Benjamin OBE.
David Wood OBE, Chair of Action for Children's Arts, explains why:
Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham Like a breath of fresh air, Floella breezed into BBC children's television programmes in the 70s. She brightened up our screens - and millions of children's lives - in Playschool. Her talent, energy, commitment and enthusiasm were second to none - and, in the succeeding decades, these qualities have continued and developed. She has produced her own television programmes for children, campaigned relentlessly for quality, access and proper funding, and now, as Baroness Benjamin OBE, she is a brilliant and articulate advocate for children's arts in the House of Lords. She also writes books, runs marathons for charity and is Chancellor of the University of Exeter.
Action for Children's Arts is proud that Floella, one of Trinidad's greatest and much-loved gifts to the UK, is a Patron of our organisation, and, as a true champion of children's arts, a very worthy
recipient of the J M Barrie Award 2012.
Previous J M Barrie Award winners have included author, Dick King-Smith, animators, Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, illustrator, Quentin Blake C.B.E. and poet, Roger McGough C.B.E.
Children's Media Foundation members are invited to attend the Awards ceremony on the afternoon of October 20th 2012 at BAFTA, Piccadilly. Guest speakers from the worlds of television, politics and education will celebrate Baroness Benjamin's life and work. Tickets for non-ACA members are £50, and include a Champagne Tea! To apply for tickets, please send an email to Elizabeth Greaves at [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask])
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
And Finally...Please Pass It On...
We're keen to extend the reach of this newsletter and involve more people- especially parents in the work of the Children's Media Foundation. If you know anyone who'd be interested in what we hope to achieve, please forward this newsletter to them.
...And Keep In Touch
For more up-to-the-minute contact with the CMF you can join our
Facebook Group (http://www.facebook.com/groups/savekidstv/) or follow us on Twittter (https://twitter.com/Childmediafound) .
follow on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/childmediaconf/
) | friend on Facebook (#
) | forward to a friend (http://us5.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=059778bf9963e6cb8ee4e0fdb&id=34409e7f2d&e=58437aab80)
The Children's Media Foundation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee
Company number 497733, Registered address: 3 Liberia Road,London N5 1JP
unsubscribe from this list (http://thechildrensmediafoundation.us5.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=059778bf9963e6cb8ee4e0fdb&id=6d2c7ecc3d&e=58437aab80&c=34409e7f2d) | update subscription preferences (http://thechildrensmediafoundation.us5.list-manage2.com/profile?u=059778bf9963e6cb8ee4e0fdb&id=6d2c7ecc3d&e=58437aab80) | view email in browser (http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=059778bf9963e6cb8ee4e0fdb&id=34409e7f2d&e=58437aab80)
Sent to [log in to unmask] - why did I get this? (http://thechildrensmediafoundation.us5.list-manage.com/about?u=059778bf9963e6cb8ee4e0fdb&id=6d2c7ecc3d&e=58437aab80&c=34409e7f2d)
unsubscribe from this list (http://thechildrensmediafoundation.us5.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=059778bf9963e6cb8ee4e0fdb&id=6d2c7ecc3d&e=58437aab80&c=34409e7f2d) | update subscription preferences (http://thechildrensmediafoundation.us5.list-manage2.com/profile?u=059778bf9963e6cb8ee4e0fdb&id=6d2c7ecc3d&e=58437aab80)
The Children's Media Foundation · 15 Briarbank Rd · London, England W13 0HH Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp
http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=monkey_rewards&aid=059778bf9963e6cb8ee4e0fdb&afl=1
--------------------------------------------------------
MeCCSA mailing list
--------------------------------------------------------
To manage your subscription or unsubscribe from the MECCSA list, please visit:
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MECCSA&A=1
-------------------------------------------------------
MeCCSA is the subject association for the field of media, communication and cultural studies in UK Higher Education. Membership is open to all who teach and research these subjects in HE institutions, via either institutional or individual membership. The field includes film and TV production, journalism, radio, photography, creative writing, publishing, interactive media and the web; and it includes higher education for media practice as well as for media studies.
This mailing list is a free service from MeCCSA and is not restricted to members.
For further information, please visit: http://www.meccsa.org.uk/
--------------------------------------------------------