MORALS, MEDIA, AND THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION

By Patricia King

All Media Preaches Something

Media represents potential mass communication through print, video, audio, television, movies, video games, digital and electronic data, music, social networks, and arts. Media shapes culture and media influences mindsets.

All media “preaches” something. As a child I recall my father coming home with our first television. It was a black and white Admiral TV and the family was so jazzed. Some of the shows I remember watching were Father Knows Best, Ed Sullivan, Lassie, and the Lone Ranger. There were no sex scenes, naked bodies, foul language, or extreme violence. Those things were censored for the sake of the moral health of family, community, and nation.

What About the Children

Well, over 50 years have passed now since that television came into our home. Many things have changed in the last five decades. We now have high definition colored television with remote service. We can download almost anything into our living rooms, studies, or mobile phones… and censorship? I am not sure we even know what that word means anymore. Restricted ratings used to be that which protected children but now it is rated restricted in order to sell more views.

Children can easily watch open sex scenes, pornography, extreme rebellion in families, excessive violence, hatred and lawlessness, foul language, and open dishonor for authority any time day or night. The younger generation through the digital revolution has access to just about anything through a simple download or a click on the remote.

Divorce rates are increasing, crime is escalating, and the nation is being shaken. Perhaps we need to look at using the communication portal of media to re-build the family, community, and nation rather than to destroy it. Media presents an awesome opportunity to birth a moral revolution. Imagine what it would be like if producers, authors, and other forerunners and leaders in the industry began to raise up the banner of moral purity, kindness, and love. Imagine media being inundated with examples of healthy family dynamics and relationships.

Any Revolutionaries?

Media molds mindsets and shapes culture. Media preaches something. Are there any revolutionaries reading this article? You might think, “But, what can I do?” You can start by:

1. Praying for every avenue of media to be used increasingly as a positive influence.
2. Encouraging existing wholesome media. There are many wonderful programs, books, articles, and music that promote good morals. Send letters to stations, websites, etc encouraging them for hosting edifying media. Send emails to friends drawing their attention to healthy media.
3. Not supporting R-related media.
4. Supporting the purchase of wholesome movies, video games, books, etc.
5. Creating some moral media. Almost everyone these days can send emails, create a blog, post a message on Facebook or Twitter, or create a video for You Tube.  Media is viral so we can quickly fill the earth with goodness if we all do something.
6. Funding media projects that represent integrity, wholesome values, and pure morals.
7. Finding others with similar convictions in order to strengthen your voice.

Events that Promote Righteous Media

In August 2010, we hosted our first film festival (The New-Media Fest. Go to www.christianfilmfest.org for more info on our festivals). It was wonderful. Over 1200 registered for the event. Its focus was values-based media. It was exciting to see directors, producers, screenwriters, social media networkers, actors, investors, intercessors, and many committed Christians who love moral media, coming together. We watched films, celebrated the productions, and attended insightful workshops (over 60 workshop available). Events like this will help strengthen the mandate for moral media.

God’s Media Army

Many ministries are hosting media events and training and are launching into media production. Why? Because God is raising up a powerful media army! This army will not be bought or sold and will now bow it’s knee to the ways of the world. The trumpet is being blown and the troops are rallying. We will see more creativity released through media in this hour than ever before!

We have so much to be thankful for. If we all do our part, we can create a beautiful, safe world for the generations that follow. So, let’s do it.

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Go to www.xpmediatraining.com for more information on training in acting, screenwriting, voice-overs, and media bootcamps.

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