Definition: Media literacy is education for life in a global media world.
For 500 years, since the invention of moveable type, we have valued the ability to read and write as the primary means of communicating and understanding history, cultural traditions, political and social philosophy and news of the day. In more recent times, traditional literacy skills ensured that individuals could participate fully as engaged citizens and functioning adults in society.
Today families, schools and all community institutions share the responsibility for preparing young people for living and learning in a global culture that is increasingly connected through multi-media and influenced by powerful images, words and sounds.
The heart of media literacy is informed inquiry.
Through a four-step "inquiry" process of Awareness . . . Analysis . . . Reflection . . .Action, media literacy helps young people acquire an empowering set of "navigational" skills which include the ability to:
Access information from a variety of sources.
Analyze and explore how messages are "constructed" whether print, verbal, visual or multi-media.
Evaluate media's explicit and implicit messages against one's own ethical, moral and/or democratic principles.
Express or create their own messages using a variety of media tools.
Media literacy is an alternative to censoring, boycotting or blaming "the media."
Deeply committed to the First Amendment and freedom of expression, media literacy does not promote partisan agendas or political points of view. The power of media literacy is its ability to inspire independent thinking and foster critical analysis. The ultimate goal of media education is to make wise choices possible.
" A pioneer in its field, the Center for Media Literacy (CML) is a nonprofit educational organization that provides leadership, public education, professional development and educational resources nationally. Dedicated to promoting and supporting media literacy education as a framework for accessing, analyzing, evaluating and creating media content, CML works to help citizens, especially the young, develop critical thinking and media production skills needed to live fully in the 21st century media culture. The ultimate goal is to make wise choices possible. Incorporated in 1989, CML is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit organization."
New Mexico Media Literacy Project
"The New Mexico Media Literacy Project -- one of the oldest and most successful media literacy organizations in the USA -- empowers children, youth and adults to become more critical consumers of media messages. Our mission is to cultivate critical thinking and activism in our media culture to build healthy and just communities."
PBS Online Teacher Resource: Media Literacy
"How do you help your students succeed in a media-filled world? Can they sift and analyze messages that inform, entertain, and sell to us everyday? Have they created their own media messages? Dive into media literacy with the following resources..."
Media Education Foundation: Challenging Media
"The Media Education Foundation produces and distributes video documentaries to encourage critical thinking and debate about the relationship between media ownership, commercial media content, and the democratic demand for free flows of information, diverse representations of ideas and people, and informed citizen participation."
Media Channel Dot Org
Media 'watchdog' group.
"MediaChannel is concerned with the political, cultural and social impacts of the media, large and small. MediaChannel exists to provide information and diverse perspectives and inspire debate, collaboration, action and citizen engagement.
More than ever before, we are living in a media age and a media world. Nine transnational conglomerates dominate the global media; multibillion-dollar deals are concentrating this power even further. Yet we are also experiencing a technological revolution that empowers independent media, worldwide communication and innovative media projects for everything from community development to political action.
In the current climate, we all need to be aware of how the media operate. Making sense of the steady stream of info-culture requires background, context and interpretation. The vitality of our political and cultural discourse relies on a free and diverse media that offers access to everybody. Journalists and media professionals, organizations and activists, scholars and citizens all need improved access to information, resources and opportunities to reach out and build connections. MediaChannel has been created to meet this need at the dawn of the new millennium.
Produced by Globalvision New Media, a project of The Global Center. Founded in 2000, MediaChannel is the first media and democracy supersite on the World Wide Web."
Disclaimer:
The following list of links and resources are collected here as a service to our parent community. Brooklyn Friends does not endorse, support or have professional affiliation with any organization listed.
