‘Out in the Light' initiative aims to help families affected by pornography

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SALT LAKE CITY -- Deseret Media Companies is launching a new initiative called "Out in the Light." It combines all of DMC's resources -- KSL Newsradio, KSL-TV, Deseret News, El Observador and Deseret Book -- to help couples affected by pornography, particularly the impact on a woman who has a spouse involved with pornography.

The pornography industry has grown to a $97 billion business worldwide; $13 billion is in the U.S.

Steven Croshaw and his wife, Rhyll, are one such couple. Rhyll says she was devastated when she first learned Steven was viewing pornography on a regular basis.

"It felt like I was hit by the side, just blindsided by a truck," Rhyll Croshaw says.

"It was a huge shock to her. She had no idea," Steven Croshaw says.

Their story is not uncommon. The National Coalition for the Protection of Families found 47 percent of families in the United States say pornography is a problem in their home.

Dr. Jill Manning, a licensed marriage and family therapist, sees the effects of pornography firsthand.

Did you know...

Every second, $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
28,258 Internet viewers are viewing pornography
372 Internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines
Every 39 minutes, a new pornographic video is made in the U.S.

- Internet Filter Review, 2006

"Even though we have mounting research showing how harmful and destructive this material is, there are still too many who downplay and minimize what this material is and what it is doing," Manning says.

Now DMC is shining a light on the problem of pornography, with an emphasis on women who are affected by their spouse's habits.

"When you have something that is growing so rapidly, when you have something that is having such and insidious affect on families, then we think it's perfectly appropriate role for us to try to help with," says Mark Willes, DMC's president and CEO. "It's not a religious issue, it's an issue of what's going to make a difference in the lives of these people who are suffering and don't know where to go to get help."

DMC has teamed up with a number of experts and organizations to provide specific resources and counseling, as well as connect women with others who can share and encourage.

Most of this is facilitated through a new website launched this week: outinthelight.com. There, you'll find articles, links and discussions about pornography, as well as monthly webisodes that deal with things like self-esteem and forgiveness.

"There are significant social costs to pornography use, and until we talk about it openly and brainstorm in constructive, positive ways, we're not going to be able to get a handle on it," Manning says.

One of the tools to get people, particularly families, to start talking about pornography and other forms of media is the media pledge. You can download a copy at outinthelight.com.

The pledge encourages families to talk about pornography, texting and other media forms in the home and make a game plan of how to handle it when it does appear. Then family members sign it and post it near a computer or television.

"When there's a healthy dialogue between parents and children, the problems are much easier to deal with," Willes says.

Copies of the media pledge are also available at Deseret Book stores.

On Sunday, Oct. 3 KSL will be airing a 30-minute documentary following LDS General Conference that takes an in-depth look at pornography and its effects on the family, marriages and women.

E-mail: shaws@ksl.com