The International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth and Media

The Nordic Information Centre for Media and Communication Research, Nordicom Göteborg University Sweden, Financed by the Swedish government and UNESCO. A worldwide database containing about 250 international, regional and national institutions, organisations, associations, networks etc., committed to children, youth and media.

http://www.nordicom.gu.se/clearinghouse

Research on the Effects of Media Violence

Whether or not exposure to media violence causes increased levels of aggression and violence in young people is the perennial question of media effects research

 http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/violence/effects_media_violence.cfm

The Business of Media Violence

Media entertainment is big business: popular culture products are now the United States' biggest export

“Action travels well. Action movies don't require complex plots or characters. They rely on fights, killings, special effects and explosions to hold their audiences. And, unlike comedy or drama—which depend on good stories, sharp humour, and credible characters, all of which are often culture-specific—action films require little in the way of good writing and acting. They're simple, and they're universally understood”

 This is a good analysis of the marketing reasons behind media violence.

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/violence/business_media_violence.cfm