In The News

National Media Coverage

The AMA Alliance seeks to raise awareness and promote change that could potentially prevent young children and teens from being influenced to begin smoking through the Screen Out! program. The media has taken notice of these efforts, publishing stories regarding the ongoing push to change the ratings of movies that include smoking to an "R" rating. The following are examples of national media coverage of the Screen Out! program.

New York Times: "Physicians' Group Furious at Cigars in 'Hulk' Movie"

USA Today: LifeLine Live: "'Hulk' Slammed for Smoking"

Defamer: "Anti-Smoking Advocates Warn Of Encroaching 'Hulk' Nemesis Emphysema"

The Scoop: "Too much Tobacco Use in Incredible Hulk?"

LA Times: New Hulk has AMA Fuming"

Marin Voice: "Movies Still Pushing Tobacco at Kids"

WXII 12: "Movie Smoking More Common than Real Life">

Ubyssey Online: "Six Reasons Why I Chose to Quit Smoking"

Sacramento Bee: "'Hairspray' Too Smokin', Hackademy Says"

The Ottawa Citizen: "Simpsons Movie the Butt of Anti-Smoking Group's Awards"

Auburn Citizen: "Hollywood Smoking Should be Censored"

Grand Haven Tribune: "Foundation Grants Fight Teen Tobacco Use"

New York Times: "In Adolescents, Addiction to Tobacco Comes Easy"

New York Times: "A 'PG-13' Rating, Despite the Haze"

New York Times: Puffing Away that PG Rating"

The Seattle Times: "Smokers in Hollywood: By All Means, Unmask Pretty People with an Ugly Habit"

Hollywood Reporter: "Disney Pics Kick the Habit"

Hollywood Reporter: "Smoke in MPAA's Eyes"

MSNBC: "MPAA Makes Smoking Bigger Factor in Rating"

AMA Alliance Member Media Coverage

AMA Alliance members have also been active in the Screen Out! Campaign by writing articles and letters to their local newspapers about the importance of getting smoking out of youth rated films. Below are links to some of the articles accepted for publication from Alliance members.

Denton Record-Chronicle: "School Board Backs Plan to Discourage Smoking in Movies"

Rochester Post Bulletin: "Smoking Scenes Warrent R Rating"

The Tampa Tribune: "Smoke Free Movies"

The Tampa Tribune: "Group Seeks R Rating for Smoking Actors"

Abilene Reporter-News: "Movie Smoking Targeted: Local News"

Abilene Reporter-News: "Screening Out Tobacco Use"

The Record: "Movie Images Help Turn Kids into Smokers"

Mason City Globe Gazette: "Screen Out Youth Tobacco Use"

KIMT: "Screen Out for Snuff Out"

Globe Gazette: "Group Wants to 'Screen Out!' Youth Tobacco Use"

Springfield Reporter Letter to the Editor"

"AMSSNY Advocates to Get the Smoke Out of Movies"

"Hollywood: Put Down that Cigarette"

Knoxville News Sentinel: "Movies Shouldn't Glorify Smoking"

Journal Gazette: "Tobacco Imagery Encourages Smoking"

South Dakota Journal of Medicine: "Screen Out Smoking in Youth Movies!"

How You Can Get Involved

Whether you are an AMA Alliance member or not, it's easy to become a catalyst of change. You can start by sending letters to your local paper voicing your concern. Visit the media outreach section of the website to access letters to the editor and press releases that you can adapt for your local media!