Simultaneously, however, violent crime has fallen to its lowest level in nearly 30 years. Shooting the Messenger is divided into four main sections. This section also notes that even research linking media with violent content to an increase in aggressive play, such as children's wrestling, as opposed to actual violence, is contradictory. The report points out that parents can and should teach their children to view media critically so they understand the messages behind what they view and how to apply these messages to their value systems. Recommendations include encouraging adult guidance, heeding voluntary media ratings and teaching media literacy.
Children process the messages they receive in the context of their value systems.
By giving children the tools they need to understand what they are seeing and hearing, parents can help their children absorb a wide range of media and messages consistent with the positive values taught by parents, teachers and peers. The report concludes that the answer for problems created by speech is more speech, not censorship. The Coalition was founded in 1973. It represents most of the booksellers, publishers, librarians, periodical distributors, recording and videogame manufacturers, and recording and video retailers in the United States.