In a continuing effort to look reputable, Channel One has found another organization that will “partner” with them. This time it’s a media literacy group in California called the Center for Media Literacy. It is not known if this group was paid to enter this relationship. Last year a so-called media literacy expert named Renee Hobbs entered into a contract with Channel One. This would have been unthinkable for a media literacy professional a few years ago.
Channel One is being condemned across the nation for compelling children to watch commercials for products that are harmful, such as candy and soft drinks and violent entertainment. Channel One hopes to deflect criticism by finding “media literacy experts” who wouldn’t mind endorsing Channel One, especially if money is passing hands.
Jim Metrock said, “It is appalling that any group that is serious about media literacy and the welfare of children would ever enter into a relationship with Channel One. The founder of this group is Ms. Elizabeth Thoman. Obligation has written her to protest her decision to “partner” with this extremely controversial marketing company. We have asked if the Center has received any money from Channel One or its parent company, Primedia. We will post her reply on this web site.”
Metrock continued, “There appear to be two factions in the media literacy movement. One group will accept money from corporations that want to shield themselves from public criticism and the other group will not sacrifice principles for cash. Renee Hobbs and the Center for Media Literacy appear to be firmly in the first group and the New Mexico Media Literacy Project in the second. Media literacy is very important, but the public needs to cut off money to the media literacy pretenders and rechannel the money to organizations that have principles and guts, such as the NMMLP.”
Let these “experts” know what you think of them. Urge Ms. Thoman to repudiate Channel One.
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Center for Media Literacy SIZE=”-1″ FACE=”Arial”> 4727 Wilshire Blvd., #403 Los Angeles, CA 90010 |
Toll Free (800) 226-9494
Tel (323) 931-4177
Fax (323) 931-4474
Elizabeth Thoman, Founder and
President, ethoman@medialit.org
Tessa Jolls, Executive Director, tjolls@medialit.org
