MAGIC news archive

September 2006

PROJECTS
Un minuto por mis derechos

After 5 months of friendly meetings, deep reflections and hard collective work, the 450 young people who are participating in the 2006 edition of un minuto por mis derechos in Argentina are already editing more than 70 videos.
With the help of 25 facilitators formed in media production and human rights, all of them gathered in the 18 workshops developed in 8 Argentinean provinces from North to South. Although many miles separate these children from one another, all are joined in one common aim: Be able to express their thoughts, dreams, rights, realities and give a clear message in an artistic way. The 2006 productions will be presented in a big show in the imágenes jóvenes cinema festival, that will take place on october 10 th in Gaumont Cinema, one of the most traditional in Buenos Aires City.

UN MINUTO POR MIS DERECHOS es una iniciativa impulsada por UNICEF que, en Argentina, es promovida por la oficina local y llevada adelante por la Fundación Kine, Cultural y Educativa.
El proyecto convoca a adolescentes entre 14 y 21 años a expresarse de forma creativa y amplia sobre sus derechos a través del lenguaje audiovisual y mediante la realización de videos de 1 minuto de duración.
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OPPORTUNITIES
Berlinale Talent Campus #5
The Berlinale Talent Campus is a summit of the most talented up-and-coming filmmakers. During the 57th Berlin International Film Festival (www.berlinale.de) they will have the opportunity to learn from world class experts and establish an international network.
Eligible for participation are young professionals or advanced students in the areas of screenwriting, production, direction, cinematography, acting, editing, sound design, film music, art direction, production design and film journalism.
MORE INFO

AWARDS
CRCA Promotes Child Rights Media Awards in Albania
The Children's Human Rights Center in Albania - CRCA, held in the premises of Hotel Tirana International a public ceremony to award three journalists with the Child Rights Media Award 2005, and to introduce the official opening of Child Rights Media Award 2006. The event was funded by Olof Palme International Center and SIDA Sweden.
FULL ARTICLE

OPPORTUNITIES / COMPETITIONS
Radio competition will recognize young broadcasters
Radio broadcasters under 21 years of age around the world can enter the 2006 UNICEF/OneWorld Radio competition, which will honor broadcasts on HIV and AIDS and children. Submission deadline: October 1.
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PROJECTS
A newspaper by the kids, for the kids - Indo-Asian News Service - Kolkata, September 26, 2006
To mark the Girl Child Day on Sunday, a child rights-based newspaper has been launched by children studying in government schools in West Bengal. Dedar Khabor or 'Unbounded News,' a 16-page Bengali paper, has been written, edited and designed by the children, some from remote rural areas of the state.
FULL ARTICLE

OPPORTUNITIES
UNESCO launches call for video podcast proposals
Within the framework of its project "Harnessing ICTs for the audiovisual industry and public service broadcasting in developing countries", UNESCO is launching a call for submissions of video podcast proposals for a series of production grants.
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BACKGROUND
UNICEF submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child Day of General Discussion
The Committee on the Rights of the Child will hold a Day of General Discussion on "The Right of the Child to be Heard" in Geneva on 15 September 2006.
Read the official UNICEF submission!

NEWSPAPERS / EVENTS
Asian Newspapers Target Young Readers
Newspapers from twelve Asian and Pacific countries gathered in Bangkok this week to share strategies and best practices on the critical issue of attracting young people to newspapers.
The Second Asian Young Readers Roundtable drew participants from newspapers in Australia, Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, The Philippines, Thailand and Singapore, with observers from China, Laos, and Cambodia. The first event was held in Korea in 2005.
MORE INFO

ADVERTISING
Junk food makers using internet to target children, says watchdog - Sarah Boseley, health editor - Wednesday September 6, 2006 - The Guardian
Children are being targeted by junk food manufacturers through internet advertising, chatrooms, text messages and "advergames" on websites, an obesity watchdog warned yesterday, calling for global action to protect their health.
Self-regulation by the food industry has failed, according to a report from the UK-based International Obesity Task Force to a conference in Sydney, Australia. "New forms of advertising are increasingly being employed which bypass parental control and target children directly," says the report by Tim Lobstein, coordinator of the taskforce's childhood obesity group.
FULL ARTICLE (requires free registration)

RESOURCES / BOOKS
UNESCO unveils new publication on young people and harmful media content

UNESCO in collaboration with International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth and Media, NORDICOM/Goteborg University produced a publication on "Regulation, Awareness, Empower-ment. Young People and harmful Media Content in the Digital Age".
This book presents a comprehensive review of the field, current knowledge and recent trends on the subject of offensive and harmful media content and the protection of minors, evaluative research on different measures, examples of resources and projects from many parts of the world and, not least important, reflections on protective measures and media and information literacy – all forward-looking, with a view to create a better future for our young.
Many parents, teachers and policy-makers are concerned about the negative influence they believe media exert on children and young people. There is particular concern about depictions of violence in the media. But in today’s world violence is only part of the problem. There are also pornographic films and images, excessive marketing, stereotypical and disrespectful depictions of young people, women and minorities, hate-mongering messages, and so forth. Interactive media like the Internet also imply invitations to risky behaviour in real life in connection with media use. Violence is no longer an adequate heading; today, terms like “harmful media content” or “harm and offence in media content” are more in keeping with the situation. It is this broader term that forms our point of departure in this work.
The title, Regulation, Awareness, Empowerment indicates that whenever protection of minors against media content and reducing the amount of harmful media content are discussed, media literacy and information literacy must always be included. The book is based on surveys different kinds of efforts at raising such literacy, each of which is accompanied by a catalogue of best practices, activities and innovative approaches.
The book is edited by Ulla Carlsson and offers examples of activities and projects with a focus on children’s and young people’s own media production as one of the more effective means to raise their level of knowledge and awareness.
The publication can be downloaded here. Hard copies can be ontained from Hara Prasad Padhy, UNESCO.
More info

ARTICLES
Tom can smack Jerry, but they can't smoke
Like most of you, I was overjoyed to read that a British media regulator had censored a couple of old "Tom and Jerry" cartoons because there were scenes in which the characters smoked.
First off, I was not aware that there were such things in Britain as "media regulators." Clearly, this is something that we need more of in this country. A serious media regulator would not allow commercials involving male enhancement drugs, commercials for fast food that sound like they're using a very bad word or any ad in which women volunteer to pay for a strange man's dry cleaning.
Because these ads are just wrong. Of course, the whole "media regulator" thing may need some tweaking before we get it just right.
British media regulators appear to believe that 50-year-old cartoons in which a cat puffs on a cigar will rot the health of young people, who would never be exposed to tobacco otherwise.
(...)
Like all good cartoon cats and mice, Tom and Jerry spent most of their time trying to kill each other in sadistically imaginative ways. Lawn mowers were applied to the cat's behind; the mouse was doused with water and thrown into the freezer; the cat was dropped into a vat of acid; you get the picture.
Scenes such as these apparently enrich the characters of our young people, while the sight of Tom puffing on a stogie drives our children into homicidal rages. Or inspires them to buy a pack of Winstons, which could be worse.
full article

VIDEO
Check out the "Unite for children, unite against AIDS" video

You can still participate, of course, and send us YOUR version so we can add it to the video.
WATCH THE FILM
MORE INFO in English - Spanish - French

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