Good Media

Television Programming: Exercise Your Choice

Andrea Rock, contributing editor

Cable television has provided us with a tremendous range of choices of programs our children may watch. Quality programs, however, are not nearly as plentiful. As parents, it is so easy to become discouraged and powerless against what seems to be the media behemoth. Surely, taking on the industry is not for the faint of heart, and our power is better exercised in numbers, rather than as individuals.

Enter the Parents Television Council, a nonpartisan education organization, that advocates responsible entertainment. At their website, www.parentstv.org, you may see the range of work done by this national grass-roots organization. For help with your viewing choices, you’ll find:

For parents who want not only to be informed, but also to become activist, by joining or starting a grassroots chapter, there are currently 55 chapters nationally, including 1.3 million members. These chapters are currently working on four campaigns:

So parents, if you are frustrated with the messages and values that are beamed into our children’s hearts and minds via television, please know that there are avenues of choice for us: ones that have the potential to bring about serious change!