Pages tagged "advertising"
Why the Government must step in to remove sexualised advertising
Posted on Blog by Wendy Francis · November 30, 2016 8:56 PM
Have you ever been confronted by graphic or sexualised outdoor advertising? Such advertising is the focus of a Queensland parliamentary inquiry which is underway and today was addressed by Australian Christian Lobby Queensland director Wendy Francis.
As a campaigner for G-rated outdoor advertising for more than six years, Ms Francis today stressed the need for all outdoor advertising to be free from sexualised images and messages. Below is an abridged version of her opening statement to the inquiry.
QLD inquiry considers solutions to offensive advertising
Posted on Blog by Wendy Francis · November 29, 2016 11:31 PM
Advertising self-regulation has not delivered on community expectations and continues to expose children to sexualised outdoor advertising, a Queensland Parliamentary inquiry into outdoor advertising heard today.
Inquiry report provides real solutions to tackle childhood sexualisation
Last April, the Australian Christian Lobby was called as a witness to the inquiry on the Sexualisation of Children and Young People by the NSW Parliamentary Committee on Children and Young People.
Wendy Francis on The Political Spot about outdoor advertising
Posted on Blog · June 18, 2013 10:00 AM
Wendy Francis is the Queensland Director of the Australian Christian Lobby. In this interview with the ACL's Katherine Spackman, Wendy talks about the return of a strip club billboard in Brisbane. It was pulled down after a public outcry but reappeared over the weekend just eight kilometres away from its original location. See the related media release Reappearance of strip club billboard shows regulation not working
MR: Fairfax helping Foxtel cash in on bestiality billboard controversy
Posted on Blog · May 01, 2013 10:00 AM
For release: Thursday, 2nd May, 2013
Despite admitting its Kings Cross bestiality billboard was a "lapse of judgement", Foxtel was being helped to cash in on the controversy by Fairfax Media, according to the Australian Christian Lobby.
ACL spokesperson Wendy Francis called on Fairfax Media to stop running advertising for Studio 132 and Foxtel alongside its online articles which detail the public outrage at Foxtel. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/appalling-taste-foxtel-to-remove-bestiality-billboard-20130501-2is89.html
"It is bad enough that Foxtel almost certainly purchased this billboard with the full intention of getting free advertising out of the inevitable controversy, but now Fairfax Media is complicit by running advertisements for the very program alongside articles criticising it," Ms Francis said.
"There seems to be no limit to the ends to which our media is prepared to debase itself in the pursuit of profit.
"If Fairfax Media is at all serious about its article's criticisms of Foxtel, it should not be lamely complicit in providing the advertising they always sort.
"Where is the Advertising Standards Board in the midst of all this?" she said.
9.07am UPDATE: Fairfax Media has contacted us to advise it's suppressed the advertising on the story.
Sexualised baby's t-shirt removed from Brisbane store
Posted on Blog · December 10, 2012 11:00 AM
Highly sexualised advertising and marketing has reached the stage where T-shirts such as this (pictured left) are sold in family shopping centres. This range of T-shirts were being sold in the Logan Hyperdome, a large shopping centre in Logan just South of Brisbane. ACL's Qld State Director, Wendy Francis, requested the shop keeper of ZINOS to remove them from sale but was told they were 'meant to be funny'. These T-shirts are in size 0 – for babies. Wendy bought a T-shirt and took it to Centre Management, making an official complaint. She also stood outside of ZINOS for some time and asked other shoppers whether they believed it was an appropriate shirt for a baby - not one person believed it was. Later that day she received the following correspondence from Centre Management confirming the shirts would be removed.
Good Afternoon Ms Francis,
Thank you for coming to see us this afternoon regarding the baby t-shirt that you found to be offensive. Feedback such as yours helps us provide a more pleasurable shopping experience at the Hyperdome. I have spoken with the owner of the business and he is removing it from sale today. I trust that you are happy with this immediate action. Once again thank you for your feedback, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Hyperdome.
Whilst glad for a good result in this instance, this is a miniscule win in the overall huge problem. Childhood should be a time of innocence, learning and fun. Children should not be pressured by inappropriate sexualised marketing and advertising. Dr Amanda Gordon, former President of the Australian Psychological Society says: "If the message is that you should be sexy and grown-up, instead of being a kid, then kids aren't practising and learning how to be whole human beings that will actually make them into great adults."
You can make a difference. Click here to find out how.
Outdoor advertising campaign video # 2 - 'Let's make outdoor advertising safe for our kids'
Posted on Blog · November 21, 2012 11:00 AM
ACL is campaigning to make outdoor advertising G-rated.
Momentum is building on this issue. Some members of parliament are beginning to see the negative impacts that highly sexualised outdoor advertising is having on Australia's children.
Yesterday, ACL launched its second campaign video. Watch it on Youtube now!
Also, don't forget that your MPs need your encouragement to take legislative action to clean up our public spaces.
Click here to find out how you can help.
MR: G-rated outdoor advertising needed to protect Australian children
For release: Friday, November 16, 2012
The Australian Christian Lobby has launched a renewed national campaign to make outdoor advertising G rated.
Sexually explicit material displayed in public areas continues to impact and contribute to the sexualisation of children.
ACL spokeswoman Wendy Francis has expressed concern at the effect this is having on families.
"Parents are tired of the inability to protect their children from adult concepts on billboards and shop-front advertising," Ms Francis said.
"There is substantial evidence that sexualisation harms children. It promotes body image concerns, eating disorders, and gender stereotyping.
"It is concerning also that the degradation of women portrayed by a selection of these billboards is seen as acceptable in accordance with the Advertising Standards Board Code of Ethics.
"We must protect our children from forming unhealthy attitudes towards women and sex," she said.
ACL is calling upon governments to reassess the current self-regulation scheme and enact legislation that will place further restrictions on outdoor and shop-front advertising to prevent the display of material that is sexually explicit, offensive and/or inappropriate for children.
"We welcome a move by the West Australian parliament to find better ways of protecting children from being exposed to highly explicit content in the media," Ms Francis said.
The Queensland government has expressed its concern also, stating that "if it is not appropriate to show children on television during prime time, then it is not for outdoor billboard advertising".
Similar inquiries into reducing sexualised advertising on streets are being held by governments in the US, France and Britain.
"This is an urgent issue and we call upon the Australian government to take the lead, on behalf of Australian children," Ms Francis said.
Melinda Liszewski on the Political Spot
Melinda Liszweski from Collective Shout talks about clothing company Supre's new advertisement for "jeggings" featuring topless girls. Listen here. Transcript here.
MR: Abusive language and cyberbullying inappropriate in debate about sexualisation of children through outdoor advertising
For release: June 1, 2011
The Australian Christian Lobby has expressed concern at the level of abuse one of its staff members has received from some homosexual activists following Adshel's decision to remove sexualised advertisements from Brisbane bus shelters this week.
ACL Chief of Staff Lyle Shelton said he was disappointed at the abuse levelled at ACL's Queensland Director Wendy Francis, a long-time campaigner against the sexualisation of children through outdoor advertising.
"ACL's activism in Queensland this week is part of a larger campaign to see all billboards G-Rated and Ms Francis recently appeared at a Senate Inquiry into outdoor advertising," Mr Shelton said.
"ACL has been active in this debate for a long time and submitted to two Senate Inquiries in 2008 about advertising standards and the sexualisation of children in the contemporary media.
"Homosexual activists have launched Facebook campaigns Wendy Francis is a homophobe and Homophobia - NOT HERE - Adshel Caves to Homophobic Pressure and emailed abusive letters and phone calls to intimidate the ACL and Wendy out of the issue of sexualisation of children," Mr Shelton said.
[ EDITOR : The above Facebook pages are also available Via this link ]
"Let's block her phone up with messages of sympathy that she's such a hate filled bastard" was one comment on Facebook.
"You are DISGUSTING human being. How f** dare you complain about an ad that supports safe sex and the fight against aids...So get your head out of your a**, and respect people for who they are, " was one e-mail message, he said.
Mr Shelton said it was regrettable that some activists resorted to abusive language and cyber bullying of Ms Francis.
"This sort of intimidation is unacceptable," Mr Shelton said.
ACL supported the then Rudd Government's moves in 2008 to provide equality for same-sex couples under Commonwealth Law with the amendment of 85 pieces of legislation.
Sadly use of intimidating language is not limited to those attacking Ms Francis.
"It also follows inappropriate comments by New South Wales Senator Doug Cameron last month who compared supporters of traditional marriage to supporters of racist apartheid," Mr Shelton said.
"Discussion about the sexualisation of children is a legitimate issue that is concerning many parents and this discussion should be allowed to take place in an environment of respect and civility," Mr Shelton said.
[ EDITOR : Related subjects Outdoor advertisers continue to put sexual images in front of kids
and Gays must curb vile vitriol ]