Bad News

Half of the children who watch the news say they felt depressed, angry, or sad afterward. This is the unsettling result of a study by the Los Angeles advocacy group, Children Now. Yet concern about the impact of news shows on children has been completely absent from discussions about quality television, the V-chip, and the rating system. We live in a society governed by a democratic constitution. In America, we have freedom of the press, so citizens cannot censor the news. Even if news can be harmful to children, it cannot be subject to TV ratings. But, news has a powerful impact on kids.

We help children deal with disasters, but ignore the daily onslaught

When the Challenger blew up in 1986 before the eyes of millions of American school children, caring adults rushed to help them cope with this dramatic, and very public, tragedy. After the explosion, experts offering advice for families appeared on television, in newspapers, and in magazines.

Similarly, the Oklahoma City bombing resulted in an outpouring of concern for children's well-being. But what are we doing to help youngsters manage less dramatic but no less disturbing news? Stories about violence, mistreatment of women and children, natural disasters, and abuses of power are routine leads in news programs.

The media is increasingly more competitive and carefully packages stories to attract instant attention. Unfortunately, adults aren't the only ones whose interest is caught. Our children are naturally curious and that makes them susceptible to the gory details of the television news.