Chapter 11. Engaging the Media, Advertising, and Entertainment Industries: Resources

The Advertising Council
261 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-922-1500
Fax: 212-922-1676
Web site: www.adcouncil.org

Each year the Advertising Council coordinates approximately 40 public education and advocacy campaigns that focus on preventive health, education, community well-being, environmental preservation, strengthening families, and enriching children's lives. Advertising Council slogans ("Take a Bite Out of Crime," "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk") and characters (Smokey the Bear, McGruff the Crime Dog) raise awareness, promote individual action, and save lives.

Benton Foundation
950 18th Street NW.
Washington DC 20006
Phone: 202-638-5770
Fax: 202-638-5771
Web site: www.benton.org

Supporting the public interest use of communications media, the Benton Foundation provides leadership in the emerging communications environment and promotes the value of communications in solving social problems.

Center for Media Education
2120 L Street NW., Suite 200
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-331-7833
Fax: 202-331-7841
Web site: www.cme.org

The Center for Media Education (CME) fosters a quality electronic media culture for children, families, and communities. CME encourages a responsible vision of the digital future and has been a leader in expanding educational television programming and promoting television and Internet safeguards for youth.

Media Research Center
325 South Patrick Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-683-9733
Fax: 703-683-9736
Web site: www.mediaresearch.org

The Media Research Center is a media watchdog organization that investigates the prevalence of, reports on, and educates the public about media bias. The Web site provides links to Media Research Center newsletters, special reports, and opinion pieces and information about the Free Market Project (which works to educate the media about the principles of free enterprise) and the Montgomery Internship Program (which teaches youth about balanced journalism).

Mediascope
12711 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 440
Studio City, CA 91604
Phone: 818-508-2080
Fax: 818-508-2088
Web site: www.igc.apc.org/mediascope

Mediascope encourages responsible portrayals in film, television, video games, music, advertising, and on the Internet, providing the creative community, legislators, educators, and parents with research tools and information on media ratings, teen sexuality, media violence, substance abuse, and related issues to facilitate social responsibility.

National Advertising Division and Children's Advertising Review Unit
Council of Better Business Bureaus
4200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1838
Phone: 703-276-0100
Fax: 703-525-8277
Web site: www.bbb.org/advertising

The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the Better Business Bureau system, which offers business reliability reports, consumer-business dispute resolution, industry guidelines for truth in advertising, and consumer and business education. The National Advertising Division and Children's Advertising Review Unit promote truthful advertising and monitor media for adherence to truth-in-advertising principles and compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

National Institute on Media and the Family
606 24th Avenue South, Suite 606
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Phone: 1-888-672-KIDS
Fax: 612-672-4113
Web site: www.mediafamily.org

The National Institute on Media and the Family studies the influence of electronic media on early childhood education, child development, academic performance, culture, and violence. Resources for teachers, parents, and community leaders include media awareness programs; movie, television, and video game content ratings; and tips to help parents and families evaluate their media use.