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The Abbys
Eliot-Pearson Award for Excellence in Children's Media
Background
Co-sponsored by the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child
Development and the Communications & Media Studies Program at Tufts
University, the Eliot-Pearson Award for Excellence
in Children's Media is an award given every other year to honor outstanding
contributions in the burgeoning field of children's media.
In recognition of the fact that media play a significant role in the
lives of children, this award honors commitment to innovation, diversity,
non-violence and developmentally appropriate media.
The award is given to organizations, individuals or companies that have
made important inroads in the world of children's media.
The Award is affectionately known as an "Abby", named after
Abigail Eliot, a woman who along with Elizabeth Pearson, is credited with
helping to establish the early childhood movement of the first part of the 20th
century, when they established the Ruggles Street Nursery School in Boston to
serve children living in poverty in 1922. This school, one of the first such
training programs in the country, became affiliated with Tufts University,
and in 1964, it was absorbed into Tufts and became the Eliot-Pearson Department
of Child Study, now the Department of Child Development.
Though the first few years of the Abbys acknowledged only
television shows, since television has been and remains the dominant form of
media in the lives of American children, a veritable explosion of children's
media in different platforms suggested to the nominating committee that awards
might be given in different categories.
Therefore, in addition to television, which remains an important force in
children's lives, awards were also given in film, interactive media and media
literacy and advocacy.
Selection Criteria
A faculty committee reviews nominations looking for media
that are appropriately pitched for children at different developmental stages,
media that are free of gender, ethnic or racial stereotyping, media that show
children in richly sensit8ive and varied cultural contexts, with families that
reflect differences in how families are constituted, show characters that are
civically engaged, thoughtful and creative.
The committee also looks for media that have good humor, intelligence and
good production values. They look
for media that are both educational and entertaining, and for individuals or
organizations whose work reflect these values.
Past Recipients
| 2001: |
Craig Bartlett, Executive Producer of "Hey Arnold" |
| 2004: |
"Dora the Explorer", Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh,
Executive Proudcers;
Cathy Galeota, Producer |
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"Maya and Miguel", Deborah Forte, Executive Producer |
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"Nick News for Kids", Linda Ellerbee and Mark Lyons, Executive Producers |
| 2006: |
"Arthur", Carol Greenwald, Executive Producer |
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"Between the Lions", Judy Stoia, Executive Producer |
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"Zoom", Kate Taylor, Executive Producer |
| 2008: |
Peggy Charren, Founder, Action for Children's Television |
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Michael Flaherty, President, Walden Media |
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Dorothea Gillim, Executive Producer, "Word Girl" |
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Mitchell Resnick, Creator, "Scratch" software |
| 2011: |
Bill Cosby, Actor/writer/comedian |
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Alvin Poussaint, Psychiatrist/educator/consultant |
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