VIOLENCE STUDY SPARES MEDIA

U.S. Report On Teens Cites Poverty, Drugs

Despite early fears that Hollywood would be a major target, media violence
was largely spared in a sweeping study of youth violence released yesterday
by the U.S. surgeon-general.

Instead, the report found youth violence is part of a lifestyle that
includes drugs, guns, poverty and hanging out with delinquent peers.

The report was ordered by the Clinton administration after a string of
school shootings.

Although some indicators of youth violence - such as homicide, arrest and
robbery rates - have dropped off, aggravated assaults have skyrocketed
since the early 1980s, U.S. Surgeon-General David Satcher said.

``We have made a lot of progress but the youth epidemic is not over,''
Satcher told a news conference in Washington yesterday.

In childhood, drug use, poverty and being male can foster violence. In
adolescence, delinquent peers, gang membership and involvement in minor
crimes are more important.

But Lynn Porteous, president of Canadians Concerned About Violence in
Entertainment, sees a common-sense link between media violence and violent
behaviour.

``The inculcation of the public with violent images increases the threshold
for violence'' in everyday life, Porteous said.

But Satcher downplayed the long-term effects of media violence.

``As a risk factor for youth violence, the impact of media violence to date
is very small, very small indeed,'' he said.

Gilbert Salinas, a former Los Angeles gang member, said he'd responded to
programs that included mentors.

``People investing time in me to help me progress, providing the skills,
training, education, scholarships - these types of things worked for me,''
he said.