Last updated on: 1/21/2010 | Author: ProCon.org

Damon Thompson Biography

Title:
Former Director of Communications at the Office of the Surgeon General
Position:
Con to the question "Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence?"
Reasoning:

“Media violence – specifically video games – are not a major risk factor for violence. We did find rising links between media violence, television violence, and short-term aggressive behavior. But that is significantly different from violent behavior allegedly caused by playing video games…

In children, there is a difference between aggressive behavior like pushing or shoving, and real violence – like hitting – which causes bodily harm. But the key factor regarding video gaming is that we simply don’t have enough research at this point to form conclusions.”

“Video Games: Bad, But Not All Bad,” USA Today, Jan. 22, 2001
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
Organizations/VIPs/Others
Individuals and organizations that do not fit into the other star categories.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Director of Communications, Office of Surgeon General David Satcher, 1998-2002
  • Communications Director, Partnership for Prevention, 2008-present
  • President, Damon Thompson Communications Consulting, 2006-present
  • Vice-President, Public Affairs, Lipman Hearne
  • Board Member, Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, 2003-present
  • Recipient, Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Award
  • Recipient, Surgeon General’s Medallion, 2002
  • Communications Director, US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Public Health and Science
  • Director of Communications, Office of the Surgeon General
  • Press Secretary, US Sen. David Pryor (D-AK)
  • Press Secretary, US Rep. Ed Bethune (R-AK)
  • Reporter, Washington Times
  • Reporter, United Press International
  • Reporter, Arkansas Democrat
  • Reporter, Pine Bluff Commercial
Education:
  • BJ (Bachelor of Journalism), University of Missouri School of Journalism, 1979
Other:
  • None found