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July 2005—The Entertainment Industry's Resource on Sexual Health
The Media Project's e-News Update
Stop Government Censorship in Hollywood
Take Positive Action for Responsible Television (Take P.A.R.T.) to support accurate sexual health information and positive images on television.
Government intimidation of Hollywood has made many networks nervous about providing sexual health information and storylines in their programming. Some have begun to censor themselves—concerned about the ambiguity of FCC regulations and fearful of the tactics of an administration intent on promoting ignorance to keep young people from engaging in sex before marriage. But, many in Hollywood have had the courage to take a stand!
This month The Media Project and Advocates for Youth recognize Point of View and Grey's Anatomy for their honest, accurate depictions of adolescent sexual health on TV. Write to the broadcasters and the FCC to express your support of accurate sexual health information on television. Tell these shows you support and applaud their efforts!
- Grey's Anatomy's "Who's Zoomin' Who?" sensitively and humorously depicted one person telling a sexual partner about a newly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection. To send a letter in support of Grey's Anatomy to ABC and the FCC, visit http://capwiz.com/advofy/issues/alert/?alertid=7854281
- Point of View aired "The Education of Shelby Knox," offering viewers an honest, straightforward look at the sex education controversy in a conservative Texas town. To send a letter in support of Point of View (PBS) to the show and the FCC, visit http://capwiz.com/advofy/issues/alert/?alertid=7854366
News of the Absurd
The following recent news stories are absurd, but real. Read more for storyline ideas where ideology trumps science (and fiction meets reality).
The Hollywood Community Gives Back
Who says the Hollywood community doesn't give back?! Recently Ben Younger (Boiler Room), Michael Waxman (Collateral) and Guillermo Navarro (Hellboy) joined a long list of Hollywood talents that donated their time to help young people use film to explore issues of sex and sexual health.
Recruited by the nonprofit, Scenarios USA, Young, Waxman and Navarro helped four high school seniors from Mission, Texas, bring their award-winning script about the joys and pitfalls of relationships to the big screen. The result is a wonderful film, Toothpaste, recently featured in an Associated Press article and on the Today Show and being shown in schools across the country. Kudos to Navarro, Waxman, Younger and the youth from Mission, Texas!
To learn more or to preview the film, visit http://www.scenariosusa.org/movies/toothpaste.html
To read the bios of the writers and filmmakers who have donated their time to making Scenarios USA's films, visit http://www.scenariosusa.com/bios/
Did You Know? European Approaches to Adolescent Sexual Health and Behavior
Note from Melissa Havard, Director of The Media Project:
I just returned from Advocates for Youth's study tour to the Netherlands, Germany, and France, and I was amazed by what I learned. Television in those three countries is an integral part of nationwide efforts to educate people and promote healthy sexual behavior. In all three countries, teen pregnancy rates, rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and rates of abortion are significantly lower than in the United States. Moreover, teens, parents, and public officials believe in the critical importance of: 1) honest, open, and accurate education about sex and sexuality; 2) mass media messages to encourage the use of condoms and contraception by all sexually active people; and 3) free, unfettered access to contraception and sexual health care, especially for teens.
In these countries, television plays an important role in helping minimize unwanted sexual health outcomes. Television has an important to play in this country, too. Click on these resources for support in creating compelling storylines that will entertain and educate your viewers. Online at http://www.themediaproject.com/facts/european/index.htm
You can help The Media Project with a contribution today. To donate, visit http://www.themediaproject.com/about/donate.htm
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