Most people in the United States saw what happened Sept. 11, 2001, when hijackers steered two airplanes into the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. Many Americans were scared, many were mad, and many were worried -- and not just about the terrorists. Many adults worried about the short- and long-term impact on children, considering the massive media coverage of the disaster. Indeed, man

Environmental writers wanted: Must be in high school, write fairly well, and have a compassion for younger kids and the environment. Optimistic outlook a plus. Ana Correa, Lisa DeMaria and Melissa MacDonald are three Boston-area 18-year-olds who responded to an invitation to write for Greentimes, an environmental newspaper that complements the science curriculum of elementary and middle schools in

From violent video games and R-rated movies to Jerry Springer TV shows and inappropriate rap lyrics, adults often point to the negative influences of the media on kids. But what do kids think about the influence of media on their lives? Y-Press spoke with 10 Girl Scouts, some of whom recently completed badges dealing with the media, about this subject. They are Brandy Bledsoe, 15; Myra Bledsoe, 16

"You're fat." "You should dye your hair blonde." "You need more makeup." "You need a boyfriend." These are just a few messages directed at teen-age girls through the media. But participants in Girls Get the Message, a pilot program at Girls Inc., are learning to ignore them. Y-Press interviewed two groups of girls who participated in the program, which examines media portrayals of women and the me