Jackson County-sponsored television ads promoting condom use among teenagers will air on local stations by October after they drew raves from a politically diverse audience Tuesday.

"I think you should play it from morning to night!" conservative radio talk show host Rosemary Harrington told a Medford luncheon crowd.

"Have you seen what these kids watch on TV?"

Harrington was joined by Jackson County Commissioner Jack Walker in endorsing the two 30-second ads that use parental support to urge condom use.

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"It had what I would view as responsible sexuality," Walker said. "Certainly you’ve got this conservative’s approval."

One ad includes the words "We care about you. Protect yourself. Love, Mom and Dad," in which some of the "Os" are replaced by unwrapped condoms.

The other ad features two teens in the throes of passion. The boy says "I want this moment to last forever." The girl opens an envelope that reads "Love, Mom and Dad," and takes out a condom.

"I don’t," she tells him.

Harrington and Walker were among about 100 clergy, media, social service workers and educators gathered to review the ads with a Southern Oregon audience in mind.

Most in the crowd appeared to agree with John White, a KTVL Channel 10 executive who pledged to find space and time to air the ads.

"As far as your message, I think you guys have nailed it," White said, to applause.

The ads were part of a seminar aimed at adapting European-style media campaigns to American sensibilities.

Speakers including Wolfgang Mueller, a German specialist in HIV and STD prevention, and Anne Poutier, director of a French sexuality education center for teens, testified that progressive media partnerships have dramatically reduced risky sexual behavior in those countries.

"The role of the media is an absolute necessity," said Mueller.

In his country, statistics show that after nearly 30 years, safe-sex ad campaigns featuring billboards, commercials and brochures reached more than 80 percent of the general population and more than 90 percent of young people. More than 95 percent of people there said it should be continued.

At issue is the dramatic disparity between sexual behavior of teens in Europe and the United States. Teens here engage in sex far earlier and have higher rates of teen pregnancies, abortions and HIV infections.

The local ads were co-sponsored by the local Planned Parenthood affiliate and Jackson County health officials.

The enthusiastic response prompted Hank Collins, health and human services director, to authorize spending $10,000 on media air time immediately. The money comes from state funds designated for family planning, he said.

"I was a bit surprised that there weren’t any negative comments from the group," Collins said.

But he added that most people recognize that older adolescents are likely to be sexually active and vulnerable to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS.

"We do need to send them messages that they do need to protect themselves," he said.

Walker said he liked the ads’ use of parental approval to encourage condom use.

"I just don’t think it’s the government’s responsibility to be handing out condoms," he said.

That remark drew criticism from State Rep. Alan Bates, D-Ashland, who attended the forum. Bates advocated going beyond the two short ads presented Tuesday.

"This is about safety," he said. "We are fearful of small groups stepping up and saying ‘You should not be doing this.’ We should be doing this. The next ad should say where you can get those condoms."

Specific times, dates and stations for airing of the ads have not been determined.

Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail jaleccia@mailtribune.com

Statistics show big differences