Stories of Hope and Faith on Passages

Passages/Survivors are heard daily and weekly on 400 radio stations! Interviews and music clips are used as a "public service" for listeners by the stations who broadcast the shows. These stories are being heard on our network of stations across the North America and into 16 foreign countries. We are hearing from folks who are downloading stories to their Ipods and mp3 players for inspiration and sharing them with others! Some clergy and church leaders are re-telling these stories as inspirational moments. The Passages programs featured here are a handful of over 3,000 stories that PMM has produced in over 25 years of providing PASSAGES & Survivors to radio stations as a gift from your Presbyterian, Mennonite, and United Methodist friends.

For more information on PASSAGES e-mail us at pmm@passages.org Executive Producer of Passages, Dennis C. Benson, can be reached at 616-510-0873

MEDIA LITERACY Notes: Recognizing the need for gender balance and positive portrayals of women and girls in the media, the Girl Scouts of the USA along with the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and The Creative Coalition hosted the Healthy Media for Youth Summit. The summit recommended the formation of a Commission to spearhead an industry-wide commitment to promote positive images of girls and women in the media. For more information on their first high level meeting google Girl Scouts to find out more information on this program. Copy and paste this link into your internet search http://www.girlscouts.org/news/news_releases/2011/seek_healthy_media_for_youth.asp

Two studies led by RAND Health behavioral scientist Rebecca Collins examined the impact of TV sex on teenagers� sexual beliefs and activities. The results supported the view that watching shows with sexual content may influence teen sexual behavior, but also found that some viewing effects can be positive. Watching TV shows with sexual content apparently hastens the initiation of teen sexual activity. What about some of the reality shows on MTV? Sexual talk on TV has the same effect on teens as depictions of sex. Shows with content about contraception and pregnancy can help to educate teens about the risks and consequences of sex�and can also foster beneficial dialogue between teens and parents. Media literacy is for everyone to use in evaluating media intake or consumption. For more info contact PMM at (412) 323-1400 ext. 311.

How does TV viewing of violent cartoons impact young children? A recent study shows that there is a good possibility of attention deficit problems to the very young watching violent cartoons.

PMM's Mission Statement: In a world of confusing and competing messages, the Presbyterian Media Mission communicates a creative and compelling witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through media. To contribute to PMM's media ministry with a financial gift please call or e-mail our office at (412) 323-1400 ext 310 or pmm@passages.org For more information on making a charitable gift to media ministry!

We will be launching again with major league baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates Home Runs for Hunger! Every time a Pirate player hits a home run Presbyterians in the Tri-State area will donate $100 or more to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank so that no child or person goes to bed hungry. Do you know that 30% of people who frequent our food banks are children? You and your church can help out by donating to support hitting hunger out of the ballpark by going to homerunsforhunger.com Click on the link below.

www.homerunsforhunger.com