MediaPulse is a joint project of the Media Awareness Network (MNet) and the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS). The initiative, launched in 2003, aims to raise awareness among health-care professionals of the influence of media on the healthy development of children and youth.

Children and adolescents daily absorb and interact with messages from a wide range of media – television, movies, music videos, magazines, the Internet and video games. While media can offer children many opportunities to learn and be entertained, some media images and messages have been linked to public-health concerns, such as aggressive behaviour and violence, tobacco and alcohol use, poor nutrition and obesity, unhealthy body image, and risky sexual behaviour and attitudes.

MediaPulse resources are designed to help health-care professionals become familiar with current research on media influences, to enable them to integrate this knowledge into the practice setting and to encourage them to advocate good-quality media for children and youth.

Check out the sections below for MediaPulse information and resources.