Parents Television Council Launches Dubuque Chapter

Local Mom Organizes First Iowa Chapter

LOS ANGELES (October 3, 2007) -- The Parents Television Council™, the nation’s most influential advocacy organization protecting children from graphic sex, violence and profanity in the media, announced Cynthia Cirksena as the director of the Dubuque Chapter. Iowa is the 28^th state to join the growing network of PTC chapters.

Cirksena, a mother of two, is concerned about polls that show that most parents don’t understand program ratings and their content descriptors. Her chapter will be a source of information on the latest news and research for the community and will also recommend healthy programming alternatives to families through the PTC Seal of Approval. Born and raised in Iowa, Cirksena graduated from Hamilton College in Cedar Rapids. She currently works as a quality assurance analyst dealing with medical records.

Cirksena is proud to be part of the PTC, “I am excited about this opportunity to educate and inform the Dubuque and Tri-state area. I will give parents resources and better strategies for dealing with unwanted material on television than simply changing the channel. Together, we will make the Dubuque community into a powerful voice for change.”

PTC President Tim Winter said, “The heartland of America is filled with families and citizens who care about family values and the entertainment they bring into their homes and Iowa is no exception. The combination of Cynthia’s passion and her commitment to the community make her an excellent leader for Iowa’s first chapter. We proudly welcome her to the PTC grassroots leadership team.”

To schedule an interview with a PTC representative, please contact Gavin Mc Kiernan at (213) 403-1300 (ext. 2866).

The Parents Television Council™ (www.parentstv.org®) is a non-partisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment. It was founded in 1995 to ensure that children are not constantly assaulted by sex, violence and profanity on television and in other media. This national grassroots organization has over one million members across the United States, and works with television producers, broadcasters, networks and sponsors in an effort to stem the flow of harmful and negative messages targeted to children. The PTC also works with elected and appointed government officials to enforce broadcast decency standards. Most importantly, the PTC produces critical research and publications documenting the dramatic increase in sex, violence and profanity in entertainment. This information is provided free of charge so parents can make informed viewing choices for their own families.