Media Literacy: Critical thinking about media

Frank W. BakerFrank W. Baker

Fbaker1346@aol.comFbaker1346@aol.com

Media Literacy ClearinghouseMedia Literacy Clearinghouse

www.frankwbaker.comwww.frankwbaker.com

Generation M; “digital natives”

College students and high-school students preparing to enter college are sorely lacking in the skills needed to retrieve, analyze, and communicate information that is available online… only 13 percent of the test-takers were information literate. The Chronicle of Higher Education, October 17, 2006

What students need to know

““Adolescents need to learn how to Adolescents need to learn how to integrate

knowledge from multiple sources, including from multiple sources, including

music, video, online databases and other media.music, video, online databases and other media.

They need to They need to think critically about

information….they need to ….they need to participate in the

kinds of collaboration that new communication that new communication

and information technologies enable, butand information technologies enable, but

increasingly demand.”increasingly demand.”

Bruce Bertram, Bruce Bertram, “Diversity and Critical Social Engagement: How Changing “Diversity and Critical Social Engagement: How Changing Technologies Enable New Modes of Literacy in Changing Circumstances”Technologies Enable New Modes of Literacy in Changing Circumstances”

” ”Our students are growing up in a world Our students are growing up in a world saturated with media messages…yet, saturated with media messages…yet, they they (and their teachers) receive little receive little or no training in the skills of analyzing or or no training in the skills of analyzing or re-evaluating these messages, many of re-evaluating these messages, many of which make use of language, moving which make use of language, moving images, music, sound effects.” images, music, sound effects.” Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004

What is “media literacy”?

Take the next few minutes to draft

your own definition.

Media literacy is…

The ability to: Access Analyze Interpret Produce

communication in a variety of forms

"Media literacy is concerned with helping students develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of mass media, the techniques used by them, and the impact of these techniques. More specifically, it is education that aims to increase the students' understanding and enjoyment of how the media work, how they produce meaning, how they are organized, and how they construct reality. Media literacy also aims to provide students with the ability to create media products. "

With the advent and popularity of YouTube,With the advent and popularity of YouTube,Current TV, and similar venues, young Current TV, and similar venues, young people have become media producers.people have become media producers. DIY (do it yourself) DIY (do it yourself)

What media literacy is:

Set of skills, knowledge, & abilitiesSet of skills, knowledge, & abilities Awareness of personal media habitsAwareness of personal media habits Understanding of how media worksUnderstanding of how media works Appreciation of media’s power/influenceAppreciation of media’s power/influence Ability to discern; critically question/viewAbility to discern; critically question/view How meaning is created in mediaHow meaning is created in media Healthy skepticismHealthy skepticism Access to mediaAccess to media Ability to produce & create mediaAbility to produce & create media

What media literacy is not:

media bashingmedia bashing ““protection” against mediaprotection” against media just about televisionjust about television just TV productionjust TV production how to use AV equipmenthow to use AV equipment only teaching with media; only teaching with media;

it is also teaching it is also teaching aboutabout the media the media

5 Key Concepts in Media Literacy

1. All Media Are Constructions

5 Key Concepts in Media Literacy

2. Media: languages with unique rules

The Language of IMThe Language of IM

BRBBRBBe Right BackBe Right Back

POSPOSParent Over ShoulderParent Over Shoulder

LOLLOLLaughing out LoudLaughing out Loud

The Language of The Language of FilmFilm

CamerasCamerasLightsLightsAudio (sound, music)Audio (sound, music)EditingEditingSet DesignSet DesignCostumeCostumeActors’ expressionsActors’ expressionsMakeupMakeup

5 Key Concepts in Media Literacy3. Media convey values & points-of-view

5 Key Concepts in Media Literacy4. Different people experience the same media differently

5 Key Concepts in Media Literacy

5. Media= power + profitFOX (News Corp) FOX (News Corp)

NBC (NBC/Universal)NBC (NBC/Universal)

CBSCBS

ABC (Disney)ABC (Disney)

CNN (AOL/Time Warner)CNN (AOL/Time Warner)

VIACOMVIACOM

Impact of media consolidation:

Media consolidation comes at the expense of ethnic diversity and serving the interests of women and minorities

Benton Foundation/Social Science Research CouncilOctober 23, 2006

TV

What would your students

say is the purpose of

television?

Audience-Advertiser-Program

ThisThis

program program

is brought tois brought to

you by theyou by the

sponsor.sponsor.

You are You are broughtbroughtto the sponsorto the sponsorby the by the program.program.

Media literacy in the classroom

Assignment Media Literacy

Introductory video

ML in Ohio Teaching Standards

English Language Arts

Communication: Oral & Visual Standard

B. Explain a speaker’s point of view and use of persuasive techniques in presentations and visual media.

English: examples

Non-print texts (TV, film, music) Understanding bias & stereotypes Analyzing techniques of persuasion (for example– in advertising) The language of TV/film

(camera work, lighting, music) Visual literacy (photography) Blogging; graphic novels

ML in Ohio Teaching Standards

Social Studies

9th grade

-identify sources of propaganda, describe the most common techniques, and explain how propaganda is used to influence behavior

Social Studies: examples

Analyze/produce editorial cartoons Examine historical photographs Study past/present propaganda History of U.S. mass media Understand communications policy Analyze political advertising

ML in Ohio Teaching Standards

Health Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs

Investigate how alcohol/tobacco company ads target young people

Examine media portrayal of body shape/ /type

Health: examples

How media market consumer products

Nutrition messages (i.e. junk food) Alcohol & tobacco advertising Body image and the media Media messages about sex

ML in Ohio Teaching Standards

VISUAL ART

Identify examples of visual culture (e.g. advertising, political cartoons, product design, theme parks)and discuss how visual art is used to shape people's tastes, choices, values, lifestyles, buying habits and opinions.

ML in Ohio Teaching Standards

Library Media Benchmark A: Explain the intended effect of media

communications and messages when delivered by various audiences & for various purposes

Benchmark B: Examine a variety of elements and components used to create and construct media communications for various audiences and & various purposes

Benchmark C: Critique and evaluate the intended impact of media communications and messages when delivered and received by society as a whole

Media literacy=critical thinking

Who created/paid for the message? What is the message’s purpose? Who is the message trying to reach? What techniques are used? Who or what might be left out? How do we know what it means? Who benefits from the message?

Media literacy=critical thinking

What lifestyles are promoted and why? Does the message contain bias or

stereotypes? What can I do with the information?

Visual literacy

Understanding images

“If video is how we are communicating and persuading in this new century, why aren't more students writing screenplays as part of their schoolwork?”

Heidi Hayes JacobHeidi Hayes JacobEd ConsultantEd Consultant

The languages of TV-Film

CAMERAS (point-of-view) LIGHTS SOUND & MUSIC EDITING (post production) SET DESIGN ACTOR: wardrobe; expression

Examples

Cell phone DOVE Political Ads

script

Film Examples

Opening Credits- symbolism

Pocket Watch

Fear- lighting; music

Film Examples

1978 Docudrama

In what ways does the

director use techniques

which make us, the viewer,

believe what we see is actual

Civil Rights footage?