Domestic Violence Ads Win Prestigious Award

OPDV Ad Wins Telly Award for “Real Men. Real Respect for Women.”

ALBANY, NY (07/24/2007)(readMedia)-- New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) television advertisements aimed at combating teen violence have won a coveted Telly Award. The Telly Awards honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions.

The teen dating violence ads developed last year with Reuckert Advertising and Sharon Wolin Productions were aimed at educating young men to respect their girlfriends and encouraged them to let their peers know abuse is unacceptable.

OPDV Executive Director Amy Barasch said, “OPDV is thrilled that our colleagues in advertising are receiving well-deserved recognition for supporting our efforts to stop violence against women and girls.”

While teen dating violence is similar to adult domestic violence, teens have a unique set of factors affecting their behavior choices regarding dating relationships, including peer pressure, the desire to be popular, lack of dating experience, and misjudging jealous and controlling behavior as “love,” Ms. Barasch said.

Some facts about teen dating violence:

  • One in three teenagers report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by their partner. (1)
  • Females between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rates of domestic violence of all women. (2)
  • Approximately 42 percent of teen dating violence victims reported that the dating abuse they experienced occurred in a school building or on school grounds. (3)

The thirty and 15-second TV spots were produced by Rueckert Advertising & Public Relations LLC and directed and edited by Albany-based Sharon Wolin Productions. They were filmed in Watervliet, Albany County, and featured five local young actors.

The spots were aired widely in upstate New York on 30 television stations during June and July 2006. Corresponding :60 and 30-second radio spots that were derived from the TV ads aired throughout the State on 164 radio stations in June. All airtime was obtained through the New York State Broadcasters Association’s Non-Commercial Sustaining Announcement (NCSA) program, which guarantees placement at a greatly reduced cost.

The Telly Awards showcase the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. Annually, over 12,000 award entries from all 50 states and many foreign countries are received.

To view the winning spots and for more information about domestic violence, visit OPDV’s website: www.opdv.state.ny.us.

Teens and others who are experiencing violence, or know someone who is, can call the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline at: 1-800-942-6906, TTY English: 1-800-818-0656; Spanish: 1-800-942-6908, TTY Spanish: and 1-800-780-7660. They can also call the new National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474, TTY:1-866-331-8453

The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) is a state agency charged with improving the response of the State and local communities to domestic violence. OPDV trains professionals in a wide array of disciplines, including child welfare, police officers, attorneys, school administrators, and health care professionals. OPDV also provides guidance to Executive level staff on policy and legislation and conducts statewide community outreach and public education programs.

For more information, contact Suzanne Cecala, Communications and Public Relations at 457-5744 or suzanne.cecala@opdv.state.ny.us.

1. Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2005.

2. Rennison, Callie; Welchans, Sarah. Special Report: Intimate Partner Violence. US Department of Justice. (2000)

3. Christian Molidor and Richard M. Tolman, “Gender and contextual factors in adolescent dating violence,” The Prevention Researcher, Volume. 7 , Number 1, 2000, pp 1-4.

-30-