In a move that is sure to be duplicated in the industry, Cartoon Network has established a new position overseeing its efforts in the realm of social responsibility. And veteran programmer and former junior high school teacher Alice Cahn has been deemed the perfect pioneering candidate to take it on.

The role will put Cahn squarely in charge of providing guidance, content direction, design coordination and implementation of outreach and social responsibility initiatives across the net’s many platforms. ‘We want to expand the ways we talk with kids about how they use what they see on our air and how they put it into action,’ says Cahn. ‘One of the things I’m looking at is the kind of information we provide, and how we expand upon that.

‘I think my top priority will be making sure parents and children understand as much as possible about our Rescue Recess and Get Animated! programs,’ she says.

In the wake of increasing consumer and political awareness of the role that IP owners play in the health and welfare of the kids audience, Cahn believes she can use the net’s power to spread positive messages. ‘We want to use our screens on television and online to make sure kids know about the health and wellness activities that we have at Cartoon Network,’ she says. ‘Media plays a tremendous part in kids’ lives, the fact of the matter is that content does matter.’

Cahn joined Cartoon Network in January 2004 from The Markle Foundation in New York, where she served as MD of Interactive Media for Children.