Poor old Amy Winehouse hasn't had the best week, month, or probably even year.
However, as all her fans desert her, walking out of concerts, and chastising her very public drug addiction, I for one applaud her!
Not for the drink, drugs and rock and roll! But for her academic help!
Because Amy's behaviour has helped me find my dissertation topic.
Staring at a photograph of her in the weekend's press, white powder visibly clinging to her nose hairs, and seven year old, bee-hive sporting, fan in tow, I decided my MA will be on Role Models in Children's Media.
Those of you who are regulars to my blog will have realised that it's a subject close to my heart, and so hopefully, over the nex six months as I collate my research, I'll be able to share some of my findings and views with you.
Am also hoping to speak some of the media's most famour role models, good and bad, past and present, so keep watching this space!
Tuesday 27 November 2007
Friday 16 November 2007
TV fakery
Is it just me, or has the whole 'lets expose BBC fakery' witchhunt gone a bit too far?
Today's latest scandal involves using a soundbite of babies crying to enhance a clip of footage that arrived at the BBC without sound.
I realise it was used on the news but in reality, does any one really care whether the cries they hear are those of the same baby they are watching?
Obviously lines need to be drawn, and to excuse something as trivial as this isn't to forgive the larger misdemenours of the corporation, however, I do feel that the press need to get some degree of perspective on the issue.
Likewise, where Blue Peter's bloopers are concerned, the show has taken a repeated bashing over recent months.
Whilst I am in full agreement that competitions shouldn't have been fixed, and that people need to be honest with children, the recent scrutiny of every detail of the BBC's broadcasting seems completely ignorant of the fact that TV is entertainment, and not every aspect of entertainment is 100% real - a reality most viewers happily accept.
Today's latest scandal involves using a soundbite of babies crying to enhance a clip of footage that arrived at the BBC without sound.
I realise it was used on the news but in reality, does any one really care whether the cries they hear are those of the same baby they are watching?
Obviously lines need to be drawn, and to excuse something as trivial as this isn't to forgive the larger misdemenours of the corporation, however, I do feel that the press need to get some degree of perspective on the issue.
Likewise, where Blue Peter's bloopers are concerned, the show has taken a repeated bashing over recent months.
Whilst I am in full agreement that competitions shouldn't have been fixed, and that people need to be honest with children, the recent scrutiny of every detail of the BBC's broadcasting seems completely ignorant of the fact that TV is entertainment, and not every aspect of entertainment is 100% real - a reality most viewers happily accept.
Tuesday 13 November 2007
One I Plan To Write Later
If this blog has been useful for anything yet, it has crystalised what I want to write my dissertation on.
For those of you new to my blog, I'm a 24 year old MA Broadcast Journalism student at the University of Westminster, and eventually, I hope to pursue a career in children's media.
At present I volunteer at four radio stations, including presenting the children's request at a Hospital Radio Station. Eventually I'm hoping to have my own two hour children's show on one of the hospital radio stations that I work on, but for the moment I'm content just visiting wards, chatting to the kids, and playing their requests.
Anyway, the eventual plan is to pursue a career at CBBC. Despite the recent bashing shows such as Blue Peter have received in the press recently, I'm a firm believer in the fact that the BBC is, and always has been, the best source of good, clean, homegrown children's media.
In spite of this, I must acknowledge the decline in children's media on the whole in recent years. As a child I used to flick between CBBC and CITV, hoping to benefit from the best of both channels, however, nowadays it is as if ITV has surrendered to the competition offered by specialist children's channels, and as a result, the proportion of British-made children's media has been dramatically reduced.
I plan to write my dissertation on the decline of children's media - an issue which has recently attracted the attention of both Ofcom and the Voice of Listeners and Viewers.
In order to research my dissertation, I hope to spend the next six months getting as much children's media work experience.
I hope to speak with Susan Stranks and Baroness Warnock, two of the most prolific figures in the campaign for improved children's media, and two ladies who I was lucky enough to speak with at the House of Lords at a Select Committee on the subject when I was just 17,
I will use this blog to document my findings, and explore the state of children's media today, and in the future.
For those of you new to my blog, I'm a 24 year old MA Broadcast Journalism student at the University of Westminster, and eventually, I hope to pursue a career in children's media.
At present I volunteer at four radio stations, including presenting the children's request at a Hospital Radio Station. Eventually I'm hoping to have my own two hour children's show on one of the hospital radio stations that I work on, but for the moment I'm content just visiting wards, chatting to the kids, and playing their requests.
Anyway, the eventual plan is to pursue a career at CBBC. Despite the recent bashing shows such as Blue Peter have received in the press recently, I'm a firm believer in the fact that the BBC is, and always has been, the best source of good, clean, homegrown children's media.
In spite of this, I must acknowledge the decline in children's media on the whole in recent years. As a child I used to flick between CBBC and CITV, hoping to benefit from the best of both channels, however, nowadays it is as if ITV has surrendered to the competition offered by specialist children's channels, and as a result, the proportion of British-made children's media has been dramatically reduced.
I plan to write my dissertation on the decline of children's media - an issue which has recently attracted the attention of both Ofcom and the Voice of Listeners and Viewers.
In order to research my dissertation, I hope to spend the next six months getting as much children's media work experience.
I hope to speak with Susan Stranks and Baroness Warnock, two of the most prolific figures in the campaign for improved children's media, and two ladies who I was lucky enough to speak with at the House of Lords at a Select Committee on the subject when I was just 17,
I will use this blog to document my findings, and explore the state of children's media today, and in the future.
Celebrities?
Hmm ... if there's one thing I disagree with in the media, it's people famous for being famous.
Reality tv contestants whose next step is to become a celebrity tv contestant, sidestepping the celebrity part somewhere along the line.
A classic example of this is Katie Hopkins, the newest addition to the I'm A Celebrity jungle. She's 'famous' for nothing more than appearing on a reality TV show.
Whilst arguably the majority of the other contestants have questionable qulifications, Hopkins is just another reality TV show veteran, following in the footsteps of the likes of Big Brother's Jade Goody and Grace Adams-Short (who appeared, respectively, on Celebrity Big Brother, and Cirque de Celebrite).
Maybe I'm old fashioned in thinking you ought to earn celebrity status ... however, to say this I guess is to be ignorant of the shoals of today's celebrities, famous for nothing more than being rich (Paris Hilton), being related to someone famous (Kelly and Jack Osbourne), or socialising with someone famous (Tara Palmer-Tompkinson).
Reality tv contestants whose next step is to become a celebrity tv contestant, sidestepping the celebrity part somewhere along the line.
A classic example of this is Katie Hopkins, the newest addition to the I'm A Celebrity jungle. She's 'famous' for nothing more than appearing on a reality TV show.
Whilst arguably the majority of the other contestants have questionable qulifications, Hopkins is just another reality TV show veteran, following in the footsteps of the likes of Big Brother's Jade Goody and Grace Adams-Short (who appeared, respectively, on Celebrity Big Brother, and Cirque de Celebrite).
Maybe I'm old fashioned in thinking you ought to earn celebrity status ... however, to say this I guess is to be ignorant of the shoals of today's celebrities, famous for nothing more than being rich (Paris Hilton), being related to someone famous (Kelly and Jack Osbourne), or socialising with someone famous (Tara Palmer-Tompkinson).
Saturday 10 November 2007
Lily Allen and Friends
I'm beginning to get a little cynical about social networking sites, however I do have to admit I quite like the sound of BBC3's new project - a show based around social networking, hosted by Lily Allen, and contributed to by her MySpace friends.
Lily Allen rose to fame as a result of the site, and her revealing blogs have shown her to be an approachable and realistic role model for youngsters.
The straight-laced traditionalist in me does quite like a good role model.
As the Ofcom report into Chilren's TV highlighted a few weeks ago, a worrying number of children aspire to be the people they see on TV.
Whilst we can try to tackle this idolistic trend by better educating children as to who to look to as role models, another way to stem it is at the source.
If producers look more carefully at the role models they are providing for children, then hopefully even if children do continue to idolise tv personalities, they will be aspiring to mimic positive traits.
Lily Allen is independent, talented and real.
She appears to eat like a normal person, is not overly concerned with her appearance, and is not photographed drinking, or smoking.
She doesn't promote drugs, and has remarkably appears to have carved herself a successful career without abusing her father's fame.
She also sings and speaks about things which teenagers can understand and empathise with.
Admittedly my straight-laced nature would perhaps prefer her to be a little more well-spoken, and a little more geeky!, howeve, kids like her, a fact which the popularity of her MySpace page has starkly proven.
To build on this success, and use it to enable children to contribute to a show is a great way to improve the multifaceted nature of today's media, and hopefully the BBC will put this popularity to good use.
Lily Allen rose to fame as a result of the site, and her revealing blogs have shown her to be an approachable and realistic role model for youngsters.
The straight-laced traditionalist in me does quite like a good role model.
As the Ofcom report into Chilren's TV highlighted a few weeks ago, a worrying number of children aspire to be the people they see on TV.
Whilst we can try to tackle this idolistic trend by better educating children as to who to look to as role models, another way to stem it is at the source.
If producers look more carefully at the role models they are providing for children, then hopefully even if children do continue to idolise tv personalities, they will be aspiring to mimic positive traits.
Lily Allen is independent, talented and real.
She appears to eat like a normal person, is not overly concerned with her appearance, and is not photographed drinking, or smoking.
She doesn't promote drugs, and has remarkably appears to have carved herself a successful career without abusing her father's fame.
She also sings and speaks about things which teenagers can understand and empathise with.
Admittedly my straight-laced nature would perhaps prefer her to be a little more well-spoken, and a little more geeky!, howeve, kids like her, a fact which the popularity of her MySpace page has starkly proven.
To build on this success, and use it to enable children to contribute to a show is a great way to improve the multifaceted nature of today's media, and hopefully the BBC will put this popularity to good use.
Friday 9 November 2007
Sign this Petition!!!
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure that UK children have access to a wider range of high quality, UK-made public service kids' television programmes that reflect the rich diversity of UK culture
GO TO http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/kidstelevision/
GO TO http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/kidstelevision/
A Better Way To Inspire
Following on from my last post, I believe the BBC has hit the nail on the head when it comes to promoting activity to children.
Whilst a celebrity dance show may not appear all that different to a kids' aerobics show, the effect of Strictly Come Dancing is infinitely better so far as children's perceptions of exercise are concerned.
For a start, it is not an institutionalised dose of exercise.
The kids are not being told to get up and dance, or put their hands in the air, lift their leg etc etc.
They are doing the exercise of their own accord - they see their favourite stars dancing, and they WANT to copy them. They hear the music, and they can't help joining in.
At Brownies all I have to do is start humming the Strictly tune and all the girls begin to salsa!
Furthermore, Strictly shows anyone can do it, AND more importantly, you don't have to be any good to have fun! The most entertaining performers are the ones who don't have a clue what they are doing, but are clearly loving every minute.
And then, when you finally see your favourite star acing a dance ... well then you want to ace it too!
That's why shows like Blue Peter are so important. They show people the children admore, presenters they have gotten to know, trying all kinds of activities and sports.
Sometimes they triumph, sometimes they fail, but the whole point is the more you try, the more likely you are to find something that you enjoy, and something that you will stick to.
That is the best way to promote activity in kids, because once children find an activity they enjoy, they will stick with it for years.
Whilst a celebrity dance show may not appear all that different to a kids' aerobics show, the effect of Strictly Come Dancing is infinitely better so far as children's perceptions of exercise are concerned.
For a start, it is not an institutionalised dose of exercise.
The kids are not being told to get up and dance, or put their hands in the air, lift their leg etc etc.
They are doing the exercise of their own accord - they see their favourite stars dancing, and they WANT to copy them. They hear the music, and they can't help joining in.
At Brownies all I have to do is start humming the Strictly tune and all the girls begin to salsa!
Furthermore, Strictly shows anyone can do it, AND more importantly, you don't have to be any good to have fun! The most entertaining performers are the ones who don't have a clue what they are doing, but are clearly loving every minute.
And then, when you finally see your favourite star acing a dance ... well then you want to ace it too!
That's why shows like Blue Peter are so important. They show people the children admore, presenters they have gotten to know, trying all kinds of activities and sports.
Sometimes they triumph, sometimes they fail, but the whole point is the more you try, the more likely you are to find something that you enjoy, and something that you will stick to.
That is the best way to promote activity in kids, because once children find an activity they enjoy, they will stick with it for years.
Toddler Aerobics
I have to say I was appalled this week at the news that tv channels plan to introduce toddler aerobics to reduce obesity in children.
Obviously exercise is extremely important to kids, but to suggest that the most appropriate form is a mini mock up of adult institutionalised classes really worries me.
People who go to aerobics classes are normally those who don't have the opportunity for enough natural exercise in their lives.
They specifically make a trip to a gym or a leisure centre, to ensure that half an hour or an hour of their day is dedicated to calorie burning, normally for cosmetic or health reasons.
Now I'm not saying this is wrong - at the moment while I train for my Iron Man I'm in the gym six days a week.
What I do think is wrong is that at an early age, the aerobics and gym phenomenon is being imprinted on children's brains as constituting 'exercise', and constituting 'healthy'.
Gyms were created for busy adults with busy lives. They cram the activity which you could normally do in your day, and years ago would have done, into a quick fix capsule of time.
Aerobics classes are for those who find it hard to inspire themselves to exercise.
Those lacking the inspiration to perspirate simply need to get themselves to the class, after that the instructor takes control.
Rather than teach children that this is the way to stay active and healthy, we need to inspire children from an early age to naturally include activity in their lives, and to inspire themselves to exercise.
At two or three activity should be toddling around a park, walking by the river to feed the ducks, flying a kite. It should be learning to ride a bike, or parent and baby classes at the local pool.
Activity should not be plonking the child infront of the telly and hoping he or she dances along with the presenter.
Whilst the media is still desperately trying to reduce the blame it receives for child obesity, aerobics classes are only a quick fix, and they will come at the cost of potentially warping a generation of children's perceptions of exercise and healthy behaviour even more.
Obviously exercise is extremely important to kids, but to suggest that the most appropriate form is a mini mock up of adult institutionalised classes really worries me.
People who go to aerobics classes are normally those who don't have the opportunity for enough natural exercise in their lives.
They specifically make a trip to a gym or a leisure centre, to ensure that half an hour or an hour of their day is dedicated to calorie burning, normally for cosmetic or health reasons.
Now I'm not saying this is wrong - at the moment while I train for my Iron Man I'm in the gym six days a week.
What I do think is wrong is that at an early age, the aerobics and gym phenomenon is being imprinted on children's brains as constituting 'exercise', and constituting 'healthy'.
Gyms were created for busy adults with busy lives. They cram the activity which you could normally do in your day, and years ago would have done, into a quick fix capsule of time.
Aerobics classes are for those who find it hard to inspire themselves to exercise.
Those lacking the inspiration to perspirate simply need to get themselves to the class, after that the instructor takes control.
Rather than teach children that this is the way to stay active and healthy, we need to inspire children from an early age to naturally include activity in their lives, and to inspire themselves to exercise.
At two or three activity should be toddling around a park, walking by the river to feed the ducks, flying a kite. It should be learning to ride a bike, or parent and baby classes at the local pool.
Activity should not be plonking the child infront of the telly and hoping he or she dances along with the presenter.
Whilst the media is still desperately trying to reduce the blame it receives for child obesity, aerobics classes are only a quick fix, and they will come at the cost of potentially warping a generation of children's perceptions of exercise and healthy behaviour even more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)