Editors and writers of the article “On Media Violence and Aggression,” published in the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (JAAPA), were recognized by Communication Concepts in its 2019 Awards for Publication Excellence (APEX).
The article was chosen for an APEX Grand Award in Writing. Of over 1,200 entries, only 100 Grand Awards were presented. APEX Grand Awards honor outstanding works in various categories, such as magazines, journals, print media, electronic media, writing, design and illustration, to name a few.
The JAAPA Editor-in-Chief Reamer L. Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C, DFAAPA, senior associate dean for health sciences at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), commissioned the commentary after reading the book “Assassination Generation” by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, who was lead author on the award-winning article. In addition to Bushardt, SMHS is also home to JAAPA’s Associate Editor Harrison Reed, MMSc, PA-C, assistant professor of physician assistant studies at SMHS, and Special Projects Editor Teri L. Capshaw, MBA, communications and editorial director for health sciences at SMHS.
JAAPA's mission is to support the ongoing education and advancement of physician assistants (PAs) by publishing current information and research on clinical, health policy, and professional issues. As one of the only avenues to disseminate information specific to the PA profession, the journal is proud to publish articles that move PA practice forward. As of December 31, 2018, there were more than 130,000 certified PAs in the U.S., and the JAAPA editors wanted to encourage PAs to talk with pediatric patients and educate their families about media violence.
“The timeliness and relevance of this article cannot be understated, given the fact that this article was commissioned just after a mass shooting and the award was received just after two more mass shootings,” said Bushardt. “The article outlines six steps health professionals can take to help parents prevent and address problems related to unhealthy media use by children.”
These steps were formulated after an American Psychological Association resolution to highlight research demonstrating an association between violent video game use and increases in aggressive behavior. Bushardt added, “Recent mass casualty events in the U.S. are creating fear and unrest for many Americans, and PAs are on the frontline of caring for communities in crisis. Health professionals are in unique positions to help families curb aggression among children and young adults associated with media violence, bullying, unhealthy social media interactions, and other factors.”
The GW editors partnered with two national thought leaders in media violence and aggression to bring this topic to PAs in the U.S. and Canada – Grossman, a retired U.S. Army officer and former professor of psychology at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Kristine Paulsen, MEd, media education consultant and director of the Take the Challenge Now Foundation.
“On Media Violence and Aggression” is available in JAAPA
