media literacy ability to “read”, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms

Media LiteracyMedia Literacy

Ability to “read”, analyze, Ability to “read”, analyze, evaluate, and create media in evaluate, and create media in

a variety of forms. a variety of forms.

Academic Vocabulary for Media Academic Vocabulary for Media LiteracyLiteracy

Medium: form of communication Medium: form of communication that carries information, that carries information, entertainment, and advertisements, entertainment, and advertisements, television, newspapers, magazines, television, newspapers, magazines, radio and the internet.radio and the internet.

Message: basic idea or theme Message: basic idea or theme communicated to a specific audience communicated to a specific audience in a certain mediumin a certain medium

Academic Vocabulary for Media Academic Vocabulary for Media LiteracyLiteracy

Purpose: reason for creating a media Purpose: reason for creating a media message, such as entertaining, message, such as entertaining, informing, persuading, or making informing, persuading, or making money.money.

Target Audience: specific group of Target Audience: specific group of people the creators hope to reach.people the creators hope to reach.

Five Concepts of Media Five Concepts of Media LiteracyLiteracy

1. All media messages are 1. All media messages are constructed.constructed.

Many people create media Many people create media messages. Writers, directors, messages. Writers, directors, producers, photographers, artists, producers, photographers, artists, designers, and editors decide what designers, and editors decide what information to include and what to information to include and what to leave out.leave out.

Concepts of Media LiteracyConcepts of Media Literacy

2. Media messages use special 2. Media messages use special techniques.techniques.

Just as writers use techniques such Just as writers use techniques such as characterization and imagery, as characterization and imagery, media creators have their own media creators have their own special techniques that they use to special techniques that they use to craft their messages. Some of these craft their messages. Some of these techniques include music, camera techniques include music, camera shots, lighting and copy (text)shots, lighting and copy (text)


3. Different people experience the 3. Different people experience the same media message differently.same media message differently.

Age, education, occupation, cultural Age, education, occupation, cultural background, personal beliefs, and background, personal beliefs, and experiences affect the way each experiences affect the way each person response to a media person response to a media message. message.


4. Media messages reflect the 4. Media messages reflect the values and viewpoints of the people values and viewpoints of the people who create them.who create them.

Creators often incorporate their own Creators often incorporate their own viewpoints into their messages—viewpoints into their messages—either purposefully or unintentionally. either purposefully or unintentionally. Their values and beliefs may affect Their values and beliefs may affect the information they include or their the information they include or their choice of actors. choice of actors.


4. Most media messages are 4. Most media messages are constructed to make money.constructed to make money.

Media messages have many Media messages have many purposes-to persuade, entertain, or purposes-to persuade, entertain, or inform. However their primary inform. However their primary purpose is to make a profit. purpose is to make a profit.

The Influence of Media on The Influence of Media on SocietySociety

Most people think of media as forms Most people think of media as forms of entertainment.of entertainment.

However, media messages help However, media messages help people learn about the world and people learn about the world and how people view society and how people view society and themselves.themselves.

Influence of MediaInfluence of Media

Consider carefully the media Consider carefully the media messages you receive. messages you receive.

Learn to analyze what you see, hear Learn to analyze what you see, hear and read to understand how media and read to understand how media messages affect your life. messages affect your life.

Influence of Media on SocietyInfluence of Media on Society

Media messages have become part Media messages have become part of our culture.of our culture.

They reflect society’s values, shape They reflect society’s values, shape how people view themselves and the how people view themselves and the world and influence our lives in many world and influence our lives in many ways.ways.

Strategies to help you think Strategies to help you think about the ways media messages about the ways media messages

influence you.influence you.

1. Recognize that media messages 1. Recognize that media messages reflect our values.reflect our values.

TV shows, movies, and ads often TV shows, movies, and ads often portray people who are healthy, portray people who are healthy, happy, attractive, successful and happy, attractive, successful and wealthy because those are some of wealthy because those are some of the things society values. the things society values.

StrategiesStrategies

What values and lifestyles do I notice What values and lifestyles do I notice in the moviews, shows or ads I see?in the moviews, shows or ads I see?

What kinds of behaviors are shown in What kinds of behaviors are shown in a positive way?a positive way?

What kinds are shown in a negative What kinds are shown in a negative way?way?

Based on the media messages I see, Based on the media messages I see, what do I think is important to most what do I think is important to most people?people?


2. Understand that media messages 2. Understand that media messages often influence our view of the world.often influence our view of the world.

Media messages can affect how we Media messages can affect how we see the world.see the world.

TV shows and movies often show TV shows and movies often show beautiful people who lead glamorous beautiful people who lead glamorous lives and never have to work or go to lives and never have to work or go to class. class.


Newscasts and newspapers often Newscasts and newspapers often feature stories about crime and feature stories about crime and violence, which makes people violence, which makes people believe the world is more dangerous believe the world is more dangerous than it really is.than it really is.

The world that we see in the media is The world that we see in the media is not always realistic or accurate.not always realistic or accurate.

Ask yourself:Ask yourself:

What characters do I see in the movies What characters do I see in the movies and TV shows I watch?and TV shows I watch?

What qualities do they have?What qualities do they have?Do they seem realistic, or are they Do they seem realistic, or are they

based on stereotypes or idealistic based on stereotypes or idealistic images?images?

What kinds of stories do I read about What kinds of stories do I read about in newspapers or hear on the news?in newspapers or hear on the news?

How do these stories affect they way I How do these stories affect they way I think about the world?think about the world?

Analyzing Visuals in Film and Analyzing Visuals in Film and TVTV

Films and TV shows, like written Films and TV shows, like written workds of fictuion, tell stories. workds of fictuion, tell stories.

Just as writers use certain techniques Just as writers use certain techniques to develop their characters, establish to develop their characters, establish setting, and create mood, so do setting, and create mood, so do filmmakers. filmmakers.

media literacy ability to “read”, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms

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