University Communications
Emory University
Atlanta, GA 30322

Release date: Feb. 3, 2000
Contact: Nancy Seideman, Director, 404-727-0640, or nseidem@emory.edu

Emory University Hosts "Confronting Media Violence" Conference

WHO: Emory University's Violence Studies Program presents conference on media violence. Funded by Turner Entertainment Group.

WHAT: "Confronting Media Violence: The Impact of Media Violence on Violent Behavior and Efforts to Address Media Violence"

WHEN: 1-5 p.m., Thursday, March 2

WHERE: Woodruff Health Sciences Center Administration Building Auditorium 1440 Clifton Rd., Emory

COST: Free and open to the public. For information, call 404-727-7176

Media violence is widely seen as one of the leading causes of violent behavior in our society, particularly in the wake of incidents such as the shooting deaths at Columbine High School. But is media violence the leading cause of violence that many claim?

The "Confronting Media Violence" conference will bring together many of the world's experts and media leaders to discuss these issues, says sociologist Robert Agnew, director of Emory's Violence Studies Program. "Certain researchers claim that media violence only has a small effect or no effect on violent behavior, and there is much debate as to whether current efforts to control media violence­­such as the V-chip and ratings system­­are effective," says Agnew. "This conference should do much to shed light on the important and troubling issue of media violence."

The conference, which will be moderated by Greta Van Susteren, cohost of CNN's "Burden of Proof," will focus on the effects of media violence on violent behavior and efforts to address the issue. Topics and participants include:

o "Overview of Leading Causes of Violence," Arthur Kellermann, M.D., Rollins School of Public Health and chairman of emergency medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University;

o "The Media Industry's Efforts to Address Media Violence," Bradley J. Siegel, president of General Entertainment Networks, Turner Broadcasting System;

o "Government Efforts to Address Media Violence," Gloria Tristani, commissioner, Federal Communications Commission and chair of V-Chip Task Force;

o "The Extent, Trends and Nature of Media Violence," Ellen Wartella, professor and dean of the College of Communication and Walter Cronkite Regents Chair in Communication, University of Texas at Austin;

o "The Impact of Media Violence on Violent Behavior," Edward Donnerstein, professor of communication and psychology, director of the Center for Communication and Social Policy, dean of social sciences, University of California at Santa Barbara;

o "The Impact of Media Violence on Violent Behavior: Another Perspective," Jonathan Freedman, professor of psychology, University of Toronto;

o "The Effectiveness of Current Efforts and the Need for Additional Efforts," James Alan Fox, The Lipman Family Professor and former dean of the College of Criminal Justice at Northeastern University.

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