Chris Sholly, From Hershey, woman takes aim at 'disgusting' TV, Lebanon Daily News, March 18, 2005.

Lisa Meyer has been named director of the Hershey Chapter of the Parents Television Council, the first such chapter in the state.

The Los Angeles-based council was founded in 1995 to help reduce sex, violence and profanity on television and in other media.

Meyer said she and her 12-year-old daughter were watching a country-music program on cable TV about a year ago when two bare-bottomed men appeared on the show.

"It was so disgusting," the Hershey woman said.

That experience prompted her to join the national council and start a local chapter, she said. Television and cable programs have gone "way over the line," she said.

"I don't watch a lot of TV, but why does it [sex and violence] have to be in my face?" she said. "You can't just turn it off because you never know when it's coming."

Meyer said most viewers are not aware of what they can do about it. Her chapter's goal, she said, is to make people, especially parents, aware of actions they can take to help reduce children's exposure to such programs.

"I really want to create an awareness [in the community] that there is a way people can make their voice heard," she said.

Meyer is the author and publisher of "Quotes for Kids: Today's Interpretation of Timeless Quotes Designed to Nuture the Young Spirit." Published in October 1997, Meyer presents famous and not-so-famous quotes to young readers with her interpretation. The book is designed to help children develop character, according to a publisher's review on the Amazon.com Web site.

Meyer said she would like to build a local membership. Interested people can visit the national Web site --www.parentstv.org-- to become a member. Membership is free. The group is funded through private and corporate donations. The group has 28 chapters across the United States.

For more information, write to Meyer at P.O. Box 762, Hershey, PA 17033; e-mail her at hersheychapter@parentstv.org; or call 1-800-280-9545.
 

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