California Now Has the Largest Network of Grassroots Activists in the Nation

 

LOS ANGELES (October 2, 2008) — The Parents Television Council™, a non-partisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment, announced Ms. Chris Martello as the director of the Coachella Valley Chapter and Ms. Caroline Fyffe as the director of the Central Valley Chapter in California.  The PTC now boasts seven chapters in California.  Chapter Directors work closely in their communities to protect children from sex, violence and profanity in the media.

 

Martello and Fyffe volunteered for their leadership positions due to the rise of provocative and violent programs that are aimed at young children in their communities. By organizing concerned citizens at the grassroots level, their chapters will work to spread information about what is on television and how certain programming can affect children, as well as to advocate for family-friendly programming options.

 

“I care deeply about Hollywood’s affect on children and will make a difference with the help of the PTC,” said Martello.  “More and more people I talk to are concerned with the increased violence, crime and sexual exploitations in our society today and many don’t know how to curb its influence or believe they don’t have the resources to make a difference.”

 

The Coachella Valley and the Central Valley Chapters will implement national campaigns on a local level by recruiting members and mobilizing them to take action on issues like broadcast indecency and advertiser accountability for television content.  Along with providing a source of information on the latest news and research for the community, Martello and Fyffe will work with their chapters to increase local awareness of the negative impact that sex, violence and profanity have on children in their community.

 

Fyffe echoes the need for community activism, “It’s time for people to stand up and say ‘Enough with the corruption of our children, family and society.’  For evil to flourish, it needs only for good people to do nothing,” she says. “I feel empowered to be part of such an important movement, and when I found the PTC I was glad to join the organization that is standing up to move entertainment back in the right direction.”

 

With 18 years of public relations experience, Martello runs her own public relations agency – Clemens Public Relations LLC – working closely with local media and business entities.  In addition, she works with national media and early in her career worked for the PR agency representing Microsoft.  Fyffe runs her own photography business, Caroline Fyffe Photography, spending much of her time traveling around the United States and Germany photographing horses and other farm animals.  Fyffe has been actively involved with her local parish for 25 years and has volunteered her time in prison ministry services. Additionally, she taught catechism for four years and was involved in Bible study.  Martello and Fyffe are both mothers of two and both graduated from California State University, Chico, with a BA in Communications.

 

“Nowhere in the world is the entertainment industry as powerful and ever present as it is in California.  Because of this we have seen tremendous growth in our chapters and our membership here on the West Coast as more concerned citizens like these two step forward.,” said PTC president Tim Winter, “Chris and Caroline’s genuine efforts in their communities will allow the PTC to reach an ever growing population of families and children and enable them to get involved to make a difference.”