Media Watch



MEDIAWATCH 2001


Menstuff® reports on what the press and/or some corporations are saying about men. This information is available in several ways. This Mediawatch reviews the media's portrayal of men in advertising directed to or about men during 2001. See Take Action from 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, and 2002. See Action of the Week Responses.

After reviewing some of these topics, we encourage you to write the corporations and the government and give them your viewpoint. Change doesn't usually take place when only one complaint is received. If you want to be part of the solution, let them hear from you! Here's how.

INCREASE YOUR AWARENESS


*World AIDS Day/Day without Art. 12/1 US observance of UN day to focus world attention on the fight against HIV/AIDS. Events to increase public awareness through the visual arts, direct services to artists living with HIV/AIDS.

HE'S YOUR LITTLE BROTHER


Great ad in MH-18 (Men's Health for Teens) saying "Don't do anything you wouldn't want him doing. In essence, don't smoke weed.

REFLECTIONS ON MEN


This ad from Bloomingdale's for Chrome colongue shows three generations of men. Not sure if the colongue put them to sleep or if it says a son will wear his father's colongue (I don't even know what my father used to wear, if he did), or exactly what the "reflection" is but I sure like to see positive images of men. 12/01 GQ

PLEASURES FOR MEN


In the same 12/01 issue of GQ appears this ad for Lauder's colognue, Pleasures for Men with the subtitle, For the best times in life. Lots of blue, two generations of men, and this time a dog. Is this a trend we are seeing. Grow up to smell like dad.

TAKE TIME TO ENJOY LIFE


From the Serendipity Book series, Zippity Zoom demonstrates the importance to take the time to enjoy life. Just one of over 50 in the series, each with a special moral. Kids will love them and you might know an adult that could also use one in their Christmas stocking!

BLAZE SEEMS TO SET FIRES


Parenting, which is really a women's magazine, ran this ad 11/01 for Harlequin books titled "Has he been reading your Harlequin books?" and touting a "scorching" new series of books called Blaze. Just another fantasy.

GOT QUESTIONS? GET ANSWERS?


This is an ad for Planned Parenthood's teenwire.com web site. that is safe, private and real. It reads "He wants to have sex, but I'm not ready. What should I do?" Great site for girls and boys and it wouldn't hurt parents to get on-line and find out what your kids are really thinking about!

BE VOCAL. SAY NO WAY


Here is another in a series of ads from Candie's (www.candiesfoundation.org). It features Macy Gray and comments that "Four in ten girls will experience at least one pregnancy before reaching age 20." It's time to wake up now.

KIDS GROW SO FAST THESE DAYS.


A lot faster than you might think: almost one million teens get pregnany everey year. So the best time to talk to your kids about teenage pregnancy is before they're teenagers. After all, they won't be babies forever. But they'll always need you. Find out more about preventing teen pregnancy at www.teenpregnancy.org. 12/01 YM magazine

RRE YOU MAN ENOUGH?


Again, from MH-18, "Barry Bonds Wears the Bracelet. Until there's a cure, there's the bracelet." Available at The Body Shop, Kenneth Cole, Tower Records, Virgin Megastore, Ben Dridge Jewelers, etc or www.until.org or 800.88-UNTIL. Bringing awareness about HIV/AIDS care services, education and vaccine development. Are you man enough?

HEROIN: DYING'S THE EASY PART


This ad reads "Happy Heroin Hints: Share needles and risk HIV rather than miss a single opportunity to get high." We applaud Jane magazine for donating a full page color ad to support the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

THE NEW LOOK OF FEMINISM


Using everything from stitchery to baking flour, women around the world are lashing out at all kinds of extremism - even stident feminism. ARTNews, 9/01

SEX. ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT IT ENOUGH?


This ad appearing in a British men's magazine showing a woman pulling open a guys jockey shorts and starring at his penis. It reads "You can't always tell if he's got an infection. However hard you look." It went on to say "More and more teenagers are catching sexually transmitted infections. Often from teenagers who don't even know they've got one. Be safe. Use a condom. If you're under 18 and need advice about Sex or contraception, call Sexwise on 0800 28 29 30 or www.ruthinking.co.uk." We applaud the ad. However, it is usually diseases like genital warts, yeast infections, clamidia that women pass on without knowing they are the carrier.

ONE WAY TICKET


Saw these two ads which were produced well before September 11. Each carried an interesting message and visual. The first, an ad for Samsung Electronics, shows a man on the wing of an airplane with the blazing sun in the background and the headline "One Way Ticket." 

Unionbay had the second ad saying Love Thy Neighbor. We weren't sure that it wasn't a message suggesting group living since it was had to find much diversity among four of the five kids shown.

MORE IMAGES DIRECTED TO PUBESCENT GIRLS


ElleGirl just broke with the first issue directed to girls from 15-25. Here are several of the images presented to these young women. (A click on any of the images to the left for a bigger view.)

The first, the back of a young, nude girl with pink features floating down, is for a Back Pack.

 

The second, Calvin Klein Jeans showing a young girl in bell bottoms and the young boy in his jockey shorts.

 

The third, a rather provocative shot of a young woman with a very open blouse to sell earrings and a necklace.

TOBACCO IS WHACKO IF YOU'RE A TEEN


A colorful, artsy ad directed to teens and sponsored by Lorillard Tobacco Company's Youth Smoking Prevention Program (www.buttoutnow.com). Two things come to mind: Adults are telling teens "Tobacco is Wacko" (but basically only if you're a teen. Otherwise it's cool.) And Lorillard's website URL could be seen as telling everyone who is against smoking to "Butt Out Now."

SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES


American Health & Fitness magazine ran this full page ad in their 10-11/01 issue: left showing 5 standing, lite cigarettes and reading "Stop smoking now". Top right cigarettes are almost burned to the filters and copy reads "or suffer the". Center bottom ash off one cigarette, one cigarette has fallen and copy reads "consequences..." Thanks H&F.

REAL FRIENDS, REAL BOURBON, REAL DRUNK

...since 1795. Another Jim Beam Bourbon ad for "the guys". Interesting copy. It starts off "Unlike your girlfriend" not "their girlfriend" which makes it sound like these guys don't have and can't get girl friends. It goes on to say, "They never ask where this relationship is going." I guess it's hard to talk with someone who is drunk all of the time. Think they might be better off with a sponsor?

The second new ad reads "You asked them, her father, and her. In that order." Less obnoxious than the prevsious four ads, it still doesn't show much respect for women and relationships with women. I thought we had grown up by now. (Previous Jim Beam ads.)

MARTEX SHEETS AND TOWELS


I've never heard of Martex but this ad with the sleeping dog at the man's feet really got me. Headline reads "Every dog has its day. And night. Martex for body and soul." It speaks to me. Larger image. www.martex.com

PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH


September has been proclaimed Prostate Cancer Awareness Month by the U.S. Congress. As of September 30, 2001, the U.S. Postal Service withdrew the Prostate Cancer Awareness stamp from sale through the USA Philatelic mail order catalog and will no longer make it available. Some of the larger post offices that have Philatelic Centers for collectors may still have a very limited inventory. Of course, non-postal stamp dealers and collectors may have some for sale.

WE'VE BEEN SPAMMED


PNONLINE.com, a group of "300 licensed psychologists" out of N Miami Beach is the worst spammer we have ever experienced. We received 174 of them yesterday (9/26).

FASHION AND AIDS


This ad for a clothing manufacturer has an interesting back-ground which reads "2001 ADIS CASES. 57 Million Infected, 0 Cured. 9/01 InStyle magazine. BLOWUP

RSKING SAVES KIDS


Ad shows young girl in body armor with the headline: Ask your neighbor if they have a gun in their home. Or dress your kids appropriately." Subhead reads: "Over 40% of homes with children have a gun." To find out how to get involved www.askingsaveskids.com LARGER AD

FULL AD

IT DOESN"T MEAN YOU HAVE TO HAVE SEX


The Candies Foundation is running a two page spread in the 9/01 issue of InStyle magazine using the pop singing group Destiny's Child with the subhead "One million teenage girls will become pregnant this year." For more information go to www.candiesfoundation.org

MEN IN SKIRTS


Don't kid yourself. Scottish, Greek, Turkish, Hawaiian men, to name just a few, have been wearing skirts for centuries. The current "fad" in Hollywood has many people asking, "Just what are you wearing underneath?" Alan Cumming, at left, shows he's not a real Scotsman.

TRYING


Thinking about having kids? Trying to have kids? Having a little trouble? You are not alone. The 9/01 Esquire presents an 8 page discussion on male infertility, the causes and cures. Remember, November is Infertility Awareness Month.

FULL AD

BE PRODUCTIVE, NOT REPRODUCTIVE


This two page ad ran in the 9/01 issue of FHM magazine. It reads "If you have unprotected sex, you have an 85% chance of getting someone pregnant within one year. Willa Ford for The Candie's Foundation. For more information go to www.candiesfoundation.org" We concure.

PSYCHIATRY COMMITTING FRAUD


Subtitled "Extortion in the Name of Mental Healing" this document comes from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, 800.869.2247.

GET CAUGHT READING


This three-handed Robin William's gets caugh - reading. A fun approach to get the point across which appeared in an ad in the 9/01 issue of MH-18.

JIM BEAM'S ONE TRACK MIND


Jim Beam whiskey continues its ads demeaning men. The first ad in the 9/01 issue of Maxim shows four men, three of them looking at each other and the fourth guy looking at what looks like a stripper on a pole with the line "Who says men don't like dancing? Real friends. Real bourbon." The second ad ran in the Australian publication Ralph using the same photo with the headline reading "If the chicks ask, we're watching the footy." The third ad shows a birthday party with a woman coming out of a giant cake. The headline reads "A picture is worth a thousand words, and these guys will deny every single one. Real friends. Real bourbon." So, the Jim Beam good old boys like drinking', strippers, and being deceitful. Come to think of it, they may be right.

SHOULD EXECUTIONS BE TELEVISED?


The recent execution of Timothy McVeigh stirred a controversy over whether or not there should be public executions. What do you think?

THE ULTIMATE GUY & CHICKS CARS OF ALL TIME


An online survey reported the top 5 "chick" cars as the: VW Beetle, VW Cabriolet, Mazda Miata, VW Jetta & Dodge Neon. The top 5 "guy" cars were the: Ford Mustang, Chevy Corvette, Chevy Camaro, Ford F-150 pickup, & Dodge Viper.

WHAT IF CIGARETTE ADS TOLD THE TRUTH?


It takes a great imagination to create cigarette advertising. Philip Morris are experts at it. Like using their charity work to get their cigarette image back on television and pretending cigarettes have nothing to do with over 1,200 deaths a day. This mimic of Marlboro ads appeared in the 2/01 issue of Stance magazine for young men. There's a body bag over the trailing horse and the Surgeon General's box noting "Yee Haw! You too can be an independent. rugged, macho-looking dead guy."  16 mg of cancer-causin' tar, 200 mg of false self-confidence, 2500 mg of "Giddy-up, nobody gonna tell me what to do!"  www.thetruth.com/main.cfm?flash=no

SPECIAL OFFER


For each copy of Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul you purchase from us at the regular price, we will send a copy to two prison libraries. (Our goal is to get at least one copy in every prison in the U.S., which total over 8,000 facilities.) MORE Updates on Chicken Soul for the Prisoner's Soul

MEN, IT'S TIME TO ACT


It's happening. Chicken Soup for the Soul® has an edition about men and they are looking for stories. MORE



Each day a few more lies eat into the seed with which we are born, little institutional lies from the print of newspapers and magazines, the shock waves of television, and the sentimental cheats of the movie screen. -- Norman Mailer



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