On July 20, 2006, Children Now hosted “The Future of Children’s Media: Advertising,” a conference in Washington, D.C., that brought together the nation’s leading children’s media executives, policymakers, academics and advocates. The full-day conference explored how new advertising and marketing methods are being used to reach children today. It also examined what’s on the horizon and possible steps to better ensure children’s well-being in a rapidly evolving media environment. Immediately after the conference, Children Now charted its research and policy goals, which include strategies to work together with the media, advertising, food and other industries to achieve voluntary change.

“The Future of Children’s Media: Advertising” is the first in a series of national Children Now conferences that will proactively address pressing issues in the media environment that can have both positive and negative implications for children. Children Now’s conference structure is based on the belief that, in order to create a healthy and diverse media environment, we must both provide children with content that supports their healthy development and protect them from potential harm.