The Parents Television Council in the News
Mark Humphrey, Turning the dial on what's on the tube, Glendale News-Press, August 12, 2005.
Local woman started a foothill branch of the Parents Television Council, a nonprofit organization that monitors media content.
For Michele MacNeal, popular culture, in a lot of ways, has become a freak show. Behavior that once was considered too disturbing for the nation's television airwaves is now a remote control click away -- every day.
It was enough to motivate MacNeal this summer to start a foothill branch of the Parents Television Council, a nonprofit national organization that monitors media content.
While the majority of movies released earn an R rating, research by the Parents Television Council in 1999 and 2004 shows that the most profitable movies are, in fact, rated G, said MacNeal, a Glendale resident.
"I think this shows pretty clearly that money doesn't even matter anymore and that the industry will just put out whatever they feel like making," MacNeal said.
MacNeal became involved with the group after speaking with a friend's son-in-law, Dan Bodwell, who works for the group's marketing department in the Los Angeles area. Bodwell told her about the million-member group's mission and intentions, and it struck a chord with the mother of three.
"I really don't feel that the industry is doing their part to establish positive expressions for children to see," MacNeal said. "There is no longer a truly safe family hour on television, and someone needs to stand up and say 'enough is enough.'"
MacNeal cited her three children -- a 17-year-old daughter and two 15-year-old sons -- as a major factor in her becoming involved with the Parents Television Council. She was mainly worried about the negative expressions that children like her own are constantly subjected to on TV.
"There are so many social influences to watch the hit shows, but it's a problem when these hit shows also showcase inappropriate social norms," MacNeal said.
She also referred to recent problems with indecency in the media, such as the discovery of hidden sexual content in the popular video game, "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" and a recent episode of the popular NBC show "Fear Factor," in which she said that dead rats were chopped up in a blender and contestants were dared to drink the foul concoction.
"This is beyond sex and violence on TV," MacNeal said. "What social good does a show like this have? How far beyond simple human decency can they go with these programs?"
The Parents Television Council's grassroots coordinator, Gavin McKiernan, said that people commonly become involved with the group in ways similar to MacNeal.
"A lot of the time, people will visit the website or be told about the group and its goals and they will take it upon themselves to become more involved," McKiernan said. "Sometimes we recruit people, but a lot of the time, the people who become involved have already made a conscious pledge to do so."
McKiernan said he was also very impressed by MacNeal's and other volunteers' efficiency in spite of having other responsibilities and commitments in addition to the Parents Television Council.
"Grass-roots campaigning is really the best way to put pressure on public figures, especially with the maturation of the Internet and e-mail," McKiernan said. "The simple click of a mouse button can be very powerful."
The Foothill branch plans to work with local cable and satellite companies such as Charter Communications to offer a la carte cable packages for families instead of uniform 200-channel packages that may contain programming that families don't really want. Most importantly, though, MacNeal wants to get word out about the Parents Television Council, simply because many people in the area aren't aware of the group.
"I get the sense with the [Council] that my time and effort are going toward an organization that holds some weight and will make a difference," MacNeal said. "It's better to spend your time making a difference rather than just spinning your wheels."
In order to increase awareness, the Foothill Branch of the Parents Television Council is holding an informational meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight the Crescenta Canada YMCA, 1930 Foothill Blvd, in La Caņada Flintridge.
Those interested in attending are encouraged to come, and those with further questions can call Michele MacNeal at
(800) 853-5074.