Live Journal - Press Releases

The press release is going out as we speak. Please feel free to forward it
on to any media contacts that you may have, friends, family, playgroups,
anyone who is a supporter of breastfeeding.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


May 31,2006

Contact:
Carrie Patterson
Executive Director, ProMoM.Org
http://www.promom.org

678-513-6329

Popular Blogging Site Restricts Use of Breastfeeding Photos
LiveJournal cites breastfeeding images as 'inappropriate' and sends mothers
to the virtual restroom

Women on the popular blog site LiveJournal are calling foul at the company's
decision to brand images of breastfeeding as 'inappropriate.' Many users of
the site have joined together to urge LiveJournal's parent company SixApart
to address their concerns and reevaluate the policy.

Small "userpics" of no more than 100 by 100 pixels represent LiveJournal
members throughout the site. Users can define one of these icons as "default
icon" which plugs it into the user's public profile. These default icons
were originally not permitted to be 'sexually explicit or graphically
violent.' Recently, icons which depicted breastfeeding were cited as being
'inappropriate' by the LiveJournal abuse team, a group of volunteers who
monitor complaints on the site. After clarification was requested,
LiveJournal changed their FAQ to reflect a no nudity rule and is claiming
that icons with visible areola or nipple are not permitted. Whether or not
areola is visible in a photograph is dependent on a number of factors,
including skin tone of the mother and physical changes during pregnancy.

Claimed Live Journal Abuse Staffer 'Erin' in a post on the site, "That's
really a matter for the FCC to decide. LiveJournal's policies on this mirror
what would be allowed on primetime TV or in a PG-13 movie." However, this is
not true. The FCC does not consider the act of breastfeeding on television
to fall under the definitions of indecency or obscenity.

Breastfeeding is exempt from nudity laws throughout the United States as
well as countries such as Canada. Advocates are urging LiveJournal to adopt
the same criteria. "It is regrettable that LiveJournal has chosen to target
breastfeeding mothers instead of standing up for the protection provided
them by law," says Carrie Patterson, executive director of ProMom.org, a
non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and public
acceptance of breastfeeding. Advocates state that the feeling that
breastfeeding should be hidden only fosters the idea that the natural act of
nourishing a child is scandalous.

Breastfeeding bloggers who have refused to change their default icon have
been suspended from the site. These users, as well as others questioning the
policy, have been treated poorly by the site's volunteer abuse team,
something that is not unusual according to other site users.

More than 1,000 LiveJournal users complained, and SixApart issued an apology
to the group. However, the company refuses to consider modifying their
policy and continues to suspend users whose default icons are deemed
inappropriate. Although LiveJournal stated a clarified rule, mothers are
still reporting major inconsistencies in its application.

The breastfeeding debacle is only the most recent in a long line of
incidents that have people wondering if the abuse procedures as a whole
should be reviewed for fairness and propriety. Complaints have been raised
about users' privacy, inconsistent enforcement of the Terms of Service,
conflicting information and responses from abuse team members, and
discourteous replies to users seeking clarification on the rules.

Activists are now working together to get this policy changed and to clarify
the policies and procedures of the LiveJournal abuse team. While some are
refusing to continue paying for the service, others have moved to different
journaling websites to protest what they feel is a violation of their
rights. For more information, contact Carrie Patterson at 678-513-6329 or
or visit http://www.promom.org/bf_info/mp.html.

###

"Xavier" wrote in message
...
The press release is going out as we speak. Please feel free to forward
it on to any media contacts that you may have, friends, family,
playgroups, anyone who is a supporter of breastfeeding.

Has anyone mentioned the decency standard that LJ has up and isn't applying?
If not, I have a letter on my hard drive that I was thinking about sending
out.

Jess

Cool Press Release

Is http://www.promom.org related to livejournal or is this a press
release from promom?

I was expecting to see a big live journal press release when I opened
this post.

Claire


--
Claire
Posted via newmomsforum : http://www.newmomsforum.com/advice/ : PLEASE NOTE Replies to this post may appear on our forums

"Claire" wrote in message
...

Cool Press Release

Is http://www.promom.org related to livejournal or is this a press
release from promom?

I was expecting to see a big live journal press release when I opened
this post.

Claire



Glad that it didn't disappoint. I've worked with a bunch of Mom's from
Live Journal to send this press release. Am listed as the contact person
myself as the ED of Promom to give it a bit more weight. Promom is in no
way affiliated with live journal.

Carrie

"Jess" wrote in message
news:fYnfg.132261$k%3.89118@dukeread12...

"Xavier" wrote in message
...
The press release is going out as we speak. Please feel free to forward
it on to any media contacts that you may have, friends, family,
playgroups, anyone who is a supporter of breastfeeding.

Has anyone mentioned the decency standard that LJ has up and isn't
applying? If not, I have a letter on my hard drive that I was thinking
about sending out.

Jess

I would be very interested in seeing it.

Carrie

Xavier wrote:
The press release is going out as we speak. Please feel free to forward it
on to any media contacts that you may have, friends, family, playgroups,
anyone who is a supporter of breastfeeding.

snip press release

Can I link to this from my xanga account?

Em
mama to Micah, 11/14/04

I'll add a link to if thats Ok


--
Claire
Posted via newmomsforum : http://www.newmomsforum.com/advice/ : PLEASE NOTE Replies to this post may appear on our forums

Hi Xavier,

I hope it's ok, but I forwarded your press release onto the UK media, so far
to the BBC, ITV, ITN and a couple of papers... if just one of them listens,
it will raise awareness here too... Good luck, and thank you for not taking
this lying down!!

Lucy - breastfeeding mum to be


"Xavier" wrote in message
...
The press release is going out as we speak. Please feel free to forward
it
on to any media contacts that you may have, friends, family, playgroups,
anyone who is a supporter of breastfeeding.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


May 31,2006

Contact:
Carrie Patterson
Executive Director, ProMoM.Org
http://www.promom.org

678-513-6329

Popular Blogging Site Restricts Use of Breastfeeding Photos
LiveJournal cites breastfeeding images as 'inappropriate' and sends
mothers
to the virtual restroom

Women on the popular blog site LiveJournal are calling foul at the
company's
decision to brand images of breastfeeding as 'inappropriate.' Many users
of
the site have joined together to urge LiveJournal's parent company
SixApart
to address their concerns and reevaluate the policy.

Small "userpics" of no more than 100 by 100 pixels represent LiveJournal
members throughout the site. Users can define one of these icons as
"default
icon" which plugs it into the user's public profile. These default icons
were originally not permitted to be 'sexually explicit or graphically
violent.' Recently, icons which depicted breastfeeding were cited as being
'inappropriate' by the LiveJournal abuse team, a group of volunteers who
monitor complaints on the site. After clarification was requested,
LiveJournal changed their FAQ to reflect a no nudity rule and is claiming
that icons with visible areola or nipple are not permitted. Whether or not
areola is visible in a photograph is dependent on a number of factors,
including skin tone of the mother and physical changes during pregnancy.

Claimed Live Journal Abuse Staffer 'Erin' in a post on the site, "That's
really a matter for the FCC to decide. LiveJournal's policies on this
mirror
what would be allowed on primetime TV or in a PG-13 movie." However, this
is
not true. The FCC does not consider the act of breastfeeding on television
to fall under the definitions of indecency or obscenity.

Breastfeeding is exempt from nudity laws throughout the United States as
well as countries such as Canada. Advocates are urging LiveJournal to
adopt
the same criteria. "It is regrettable that LiveJournal has chosen to
target
breastfeeding mothers instead of standing up for the protection provided
them by law," says Carrie Patterson, executive director of ProMom.org, a
non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and
public
acceptance of breastfeeding. Advocates state that the feeling that
breastfeeding should be hidden only fosters the idea that the natural act
of
nourishing a child is scandalous.

Breastfeeding bloggers who have refused to change their default icon have
been suspended from the site. These users, as well as others questioning
the
policy, have been treated poorly by the site's volunteer abuse team,
something that is not unusual according to other site users.

More than 1,000 LiveJournal users complained, and SixApart issued an
apology
to the group. However, the company refuses to consider modifying their
policy and continues to suspend users whose default icons are deemed
inappropriate. Although LiveJournal stated a clarified rule, mothers are
still reporting major inconsistencies in its application.

The breastfeeding debacle is only the most recent in a long line of
incidents that have people wondering if the abuse procedures as a whole
should be reviewed for fairness and propriety. Complaints have been raised
about users' privacy, inconsistent enforcement of the Terms of Service,
conflicting information and responses from abuse team members, and
discourteous replies to users seeking clarification on the rules.

Activists are now working together to get this policy changed and to
clarify
the policies and procedures of the LiveJournal abuse team. While some are
refusing to continue paying for the service, others have moved to
different
journaling websites to protest what they feel is a violation of their
rights. For more information, contact Carrie Patterson at 678-513-6329 or
or visit http://www.promom.org/bf_info/mp.html.

###

In article , "Xavier"
wrote:

The press release is going out as we speak. Please feel free to forward it
on to any media contacts that you may have, friends, family, playgroups,
anyone who is a supporter of breastfeeding.

Forwarding to aus.family...

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"Parenthood is like the modern stone washing process for denim jeans. You may
start out crisp, neat and tough, but you end up pale, limp and wrinkled."
Kerry Cue

"Xavier" wrote in message
...
The press release is going out as we speak. Please feel free to forward
it
on to any media contacts that you may have, friends, family, playgroups,
anyone who is a supporter of breastfeeding.

snipped

I am glad to see word spreading.... I just read about it on

The Register http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/06...nal_kerfuffle/

thesocialsoftwareblog
http://socialsoftware.weblogsinc.com...esnt-care-how-
you-feel-about-breastfeeding-or-any/

Thingamababy
http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/200...urnal_bre.html

to name but a few - well done guys... I will try to keep passing the message
on too!

Lucy
--

Due with a little girl 15.06.06
http://lucys-pregnancy.tripod.com/