media

Media Literacy in the 21st Century

Media literacy is getting quite a bit of attention lately, as the new ELAR standards (TEKS) contain student expectations for K-12 that address media literacy. The resources posted here can help educators teach these expectations. Feel free to suggest resources by selecting the discussion tab above and adding a post. I will include a date with each of these resources, as it is important to consider currency and validity when evaluating resources to teach our students about media. One challenging aspect of teaching about media is keeping the information current and relevant to today's students. Units that were developed in the 1990's primarily addressed television, yet many young people rarely watch television.

The UT Health Science Center has unit **//Analyzing Media (2007)//** that teachers can download. The unit has five activities written for grades 6-8. From their unit description: //After exploring the concept of media and persuasion techniques, students will design and present their own media messages using various formats to be assessed by the rubric provided at the end of the unit.//

PBS has a series called **//In the Mix//** for teens, and one of their shows dealt with media literacy (1997). The episode focuses on television advertising and music videos and can be purchased on DVD from the PBS website. Check out the discussion guide for teachers and additional resources provided.

**The Viewing and Representing: Media Literacy in Texas** Level One and Level 2 unit was developed in 2000 as a collaborative project between TEA, Discovery Communications, and Texas Cable & Telecommunications Association.


 * Click! Photography Changes Everything** is an initiative of the Smithsonian Institute. According to the Click! website, //this series "invites the public to consider ways in which photography enables us to see, experience, and interact with the world."//

**Scholarly articles relating to media studies:** Aberystwyth University in the United Kingdom has a listing of articles related to media studies.

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**Other Media Literacy Links (I haven't previewed any of these yet):**

@http://www.nmec.org/ The AMLA is a national grassroots membership organization that promotes media literacy education. They advocate media literacy education that focuses on critical inquiry, learning, and skill-building, not on media-bashing and blame.
 * Alliance for a Media Literate America**

@http://www.fair.org FAIR is a national media watch group that offers well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship. They use the First Amendment to advocate for greater diversity in the press and scrutinize media practices that marginalize public interest, minority, and dissenting viewpoints.
 * Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting**

@http://www.guerrillanews.com/ Guerrilla News Network is an underground news organization whose mission is to expose people to important global issues through guerrilla programming on the Web and on television.
 * Guerilla News Network**

@http://www.pbs.org/wnet/mediamatters/ MEDIA MATTERS examines the story behind the story, addressing critical issues in reporting. Visit the Web site for interactive stories, polls, video clips, educational materials, and resources.
 * MEDIA MATTERS**

@http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media/verb/index.html This series of articles and interviews explores how language is used in TV news reporting.
 * NEWSHOUR On the Media Report: The Vanishing Verb**

@http://www.aap.org/family/mediaimpact.htm This article from the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site examines the media's impact on teens.  Center for Media Literacy 4727 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 403 Los Angeles, CA 90010 Phone: (323) 931-4177 Fax (323) 931-4474
 * Understanding the Impact of Media on Children and Teens**

The Media Literacy Clearinghouse A web page designed for K-12 educators who want to learn more about media literacy, integrate it into classroom instruction, and make their students more media aware.

TV Planet/Rocky Mountain PBS

Media Literacy Online Project

New Mexico Media Literacy Project The Project publishes a free newsletter with a circulation of 9000. E-mail: mccannon@aa.edu

Media Awareness Network 1500 Merivale Road, Third Floor Nepean, ON K2E 6Z5 Phone: (613) 224-7721 or (800) 896-3342 Fax: (613) 224-1958 Email: info@media-awareness.ca

National Institute on Media and the Family 606 24th Avenue South, Suite 606 Minneapolis, MN 55454 Phone: (612) 672-5437 or (888) 672-5437

Just Think Foundation 80 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 1 Sausalito, CA 94965 Phone: (415) 289-0122 Fax: (415) 289-0123 E-mail: think@justthink.org

Media Education Foundation 26 Center Street Northampton, MA 01060 Phone: (800) 897-0089 Fax (800) 659-6882

