Collective Shout supports AMA call for new inquiry into sexualisation of children

From Melinda Tankard Reist's blog

This morning I appeared on Channel 7 Sunrise to discuss the AMA’s call for a new inquiry into the sexualisation of children. Appearing with me was advertising creative director Dee Madigan. It’s probably unnecessary to say, we didn’t see eye to eye on everything. Here’s the video:

[Video no longer available]

Did the Parliamentary report on outdoor advertising say everything was fine with self-regulation?

In the Sunrise segment, Dee Madigan claimed the House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs inquiry into the regulation of billboard and outdoor advertising found the system was working well.

Actually that’s not quite the full story. I wrote at the time:

A parliamentary report tabled today [July 4, 2011] has recommended a tightening up of the outdoor advertising industry through a more rigorous system of self-regulation. Outdoor advertising is one of the least regulated forms of advertising yet the hardest to avoid – billboards have a captive audience and cannot be turned off….

The Committee’s 19 recommendations go some way to addressing our concerns. We are particularly supportive of recommendations 4 and 8, which relate to issues of objectification of women as forms of discriminatory practice. It is extraordinary that in the Advertising Standard Board’s view, as cited in the report, objectification of women is not seen as contrary to the prohibitions on discrimination and vilification.

We also welcome Recommendation 1: that industry bodies report to the Attorney-General’s Department by 30 December 2011 detailing their responses and how the relevant recommendations will be implemented [I wonder if the AG heard from them?] and that they provide a comprehensive report to the AG’s Department by 30 December 2012 detailing how the recommendations have been implemented and 2: If the self-regulatory system is found lacking, the Committee recommends that the Attorney-General’s Department impose a self-funded co-regulatory system on advertising with government input into advertising codes of practice.

We also welcome the exposure of recalcitrant advertisers outlined in Recommendation 18: that the Advertising Standards Bureau address instances of advertiser non-compliance by establishing a dedicated webpage that names advertisers, and their products, who have breached advertising standards or refused to comply with Board determinations. Read the full piece here

Melinda Tankard Reist is a founding member of Collective Shout.

See also:

Australian Medical Association statement - AMA calls for new Inquiry into the sexualisation of children in advertising