by Lori Dorfman | The New York Times
Saturday, January 26, 2013
As part of a conversation about the link between violence in the media and aggression in real life, BMSG's Lori Dorfman reframes the issue of media violence from one of free speech to one of money. She points out the "symbiotic relationship between media makers and gun manufacturers" and calls for movie and video-game producers to do more to protect children.by Alan Rappeport | Financial Times
Friday, January 25, 2013
Coca-Cola recently launched an anti-obesity ad campaign that, however indirectly, acknowledges the company's role in weight gain. BMSG's Lori Dorfman compares the move to one from Big Tobacco in 1954. Following growing evidence linking tobacco to cancer, industry executives publicly acknowledged the connection in hundreds of U.S. newspapers. (Registration required to view full article) by Reed Richardson | The Nation
Friday, December 21, 2012
The Sandy Hook school shooting is yet another wake-up call to the nation about the need to stop gun violence. Yet keeping the issue in the media spotlight and mustering the necessary political willpower to make substantive policy changes may prove difficult. As BMSG research shows, this was the case after Columbine. Will this time be different?
by Karlene Lukovitz | MediaPost
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
The Food Marketing Workgroup, a coalition of health groups led by the Berkeley Media Studies Group and Center for Science in the Public Interest, is pushing Viacom to implement stronger nutritional standards for the foods marketed on the Nickelodeon, the largest entertainment company for kids.
by Staff | UPI
Monday, December 03, 2012
Berkeley Media Studies Group has joined hundreds of U.S. health groups and experts in urging Nickelodeon and its parent company Viacom to stop marketing junk food to children. Of the food ads shown on Nickelodeon, 80% are for unhealthy foods.by Natasha Singer | The New York Times
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Federal Trade Commission is moving to overhaul rules that currently allow major corporations to improperly collect children's information online and without parents' awareness. The action comes on the heels of a complaint that advocates including BMSG and the Public Health Institute filed with the FTC.by Lauren Purkey | Nyhus
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns are a growing trend in the business world. Yet, too often these campaigns make brands appear more environmentally or socially responsible than they really are. The Pepsi Refresh Project, which awards funds to philanthropic organizations based on input and votes from Pepsi consumers (who amass more clout by drinking more Pepsi products), is a case in point. BMSG's Andrew Cheyne, quoted in this article, calls such CSR efforts "diversion tactic[s]."by Thom Forbes | MediaPost
Thursday, August 23, 2012
A coalition of advocacy groups including the Center for Digital Democracy and Berkeley Media Studies Group have charged five major marketers with violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The coalition has filed five separate complaints with the FTC, saying the marketers are engaging in "unfair and deceptive marketing practices that use refer-a-friend campaigns to induce children to engage in viral marketing."by Katy Bachman | AdWeek
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Six child-targeted websites asking young visitors to "tell a friend" or "refer a friend" may be violating children's online privacy laws. BMSG has joined The Center for Digital Democracy and 15 other children's health, privacy and consumer advocacy organizations in urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate these practices.by Staff | QSRweb.com
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A coalition of children's, health, privacy and consumer advocacy organizations, led by the Center for Digital Democracy and including Berkeley Media Studies Group, has filed five separate complaints this week with the Federal Trade Commission, calling for an investigation into possible violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by major marketers.
