Jostens Pause Before You Post™ Campaign Supports National Bullying Prevention Month Throughout October

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In its commitment to help students and schools celebrate achievement, Jostens is promoting its research-based Pause Before You Post™ program to support National Bullying Prevention Month throughout October and then for the remainder of the school year. Pause Before You Post, introduced to schools across North America in February 2010, is a public service program designed to encourage students to make smart decisions about personal publishing, particularly when using social media.

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Throughout the month of October, Jostens will expand the Pause Before You Post campaign footprint and provide new information to students, parents and schools focused on preventing cyberbullying, good digital citizenship practices and maintaining a positive online reputation. Along with information and materials, Jostens will be encouraging students, educators and families to take the pledge to "pause before you post." The pledge encourages digital citizens to ask themselves questions before sharing information online and to spread the word to friends, family and community about taking time to Pause Before You Post. Questions include:

• Who will be able to see what I post?
• Will anyone be embarrassed or hurt by it?
• Am I proud of what I'm posting?
• How would I feel if someone posted it about me?

"Online publishing, cyberbullying and bullying are critical issues impacting schools, students, educators and families," said Charley Nelson, director, Educator Services, Jostens. "We are thrilled with the initial response to the Pause Before You Post campaign and we are poised to reach many more schools, parents and families during the month of October through increased outreach to educators, educational organizations and social media."

Pause Before You Post is a turnkey program that includes lesson plans, multimedia, student discussion guides, visual reminders and online resources. Through the Pause Before You Post program, Jostens Educator Services and local Jostens Sales Representatives help educators address critical questions about social media while encouraging students to make smart decisions when publishing comments, photos and videos online and to understand the potential consequences of poor decisions.  Each Pause Before You Post package also includes information to help families understand and reinforce online responsibility and safety.

The information is based on research by recognized experts Dr. Justin W. Patchin and Dr. Sameer Hinduja, who have authored books and numerous articles and presented nationally and internationally on the topic of cyberbullying. Dr. Patchin and Dr. Hinduja are co-founders of the Cyberbullying Research Center (www.cyberbullying.us). As advisors to Jostens, they are highly regarded speakers at Jostens Renaissance National Conferences and cyberbullying seminars sponsored by local Jostens representatives.

As the leading provider of products and services that aid students in creating and distributing student-developed content, Jostens is committed to helping students develop journalism skills and understand the value as well as the responsibilities associated with online publishing. Jostens Pause Before You Post packages are available in English, Spanish and French. Additional information is available online at www.jostens.com/pause or by contacting a local Jostens representative.

About Jostens

Minneapolis-based Jostens is a provider of products, programs and services that help people tell their stories, celebrate important traditions and recognize achievements. The company's products include school yearbooks and other memory book products, scholastic products such as class rings and graduation products, and products for athletic champions and their fans. Jostens is a subsidiary of Visant Corporation, a marketing and publishing services enterprise servicing the school affinity, direct marketing, fragrance and cosmetics sampling and educational and trade publishing segments.  

SOURCE Jostens