Magazine displays in Layton stores will soon be more modest because of collaboration between businesses and a citizens group's efforts to make the community more appropriate for children.

The group Citizens for Families, in an effort to make the businesses in the city more suitable for children, is trying to convince businesses to make sure their displays are acceptable for minors to see. They are informing local businesses about raising the community standards, keeping what is best for children as the top priority.

A main target in this effort is getting grocery stores to cover up magazine covers inappropriate for children to view. Magazine covers that are often viewed as risqué many times are placed right at a child's eyelevel in a grocery store, and the citizen's group wants to ensure that the grocery store is a "family friendly" place.

Citizens for the Family has already successfully convinced grocery stores in Bountiful to cover up some of their magazine covers, and they are now trying to expand their ideas to Layton.

The group also has signs available for citizens to put on their lawns to show their support for the effort. The lawn signs have already started to cause some controversy. Last year in Bountiful a few hundred signs were stolen. The theft of these signs suggests not everyone agrees with the group and their cause.

"We're not taking away people's First Amendment right by covering a magazine. People can still buy the magazine," said Rebekah Strain, a mother who lives in Layton, and a member of Citizens for Families. "But if it is covered my children do not have to see it."

BY covering up magazine covers in stores, certain magazines may end up losing sales. The cover text and artwork are often what entices a person to purchase a magazine, and if it is covered on display, the magazine loses an important appeal to potential buyers.

"People who want the magazine and know the magazine will find it," said Kathryn Egan, a BYU Professor of Communications.

Egan, who teaches advertising classes, said people who want a certain magazine know what it contains, what the stories are about. He said they will buy it whether or not the cover is on display.

The Web site for JoAnn Hibbert Hamilton, director of Citizens for Families, said the group's goals include, "To create a model city where everything inappropriate for children is out of their sight."

Strain said she has already noticed changes in her community.

"As time goes on we will have more effect," she said.

The group experienced cooperation from Bountiful businesses and is hoping the same will occur in Layton.



Copyright Brigham Young University 14 Jan 2004