{"id":349,"date":"2016-09-20T08:03:34","date_gmt":"2016-09-20T12:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/teachersfirst.com\/blog\/?p=349"},"modified":"2019-04-05T15:20:58","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T19:20:58","slug":"media-literacy-in-a-presidential-election-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachersfirst.org\/blog\/2016\/09\/media-literacy-in-a-presidential-election-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Media Literacy in a Presidential Election Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TF<\/a>Bombarded by television ads in this presidential election year, especially in battleground states, many of us tend to press the mute button on the remote or change the station. However, as teachers, we should be thinking about the\u00a0messages our students are getting when watching TV and as they live their everyday virtual lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Media literacy, especially understanding the role of the news media and the influence of advertising, is critical to our students. \u00a0Not just during election times, but each day as they navigate their world saturated with media messages in many formats. Teaching about media literacy can be part of any grade level or content area, but is especially important for social studies and English language arts.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Center for Media Literacy offers this <\/span>definition<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMedia Literacy is a 21st-century approach to education. It provides a framework to access, analyze, evaluate, create and participate with messages in a variety of forms \u2014 from print to video to the Internet. Media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The National Association for Literacy Education provides <\/span>Core Principles of Media Literacy<\/span><\/a>, including these.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Media Literacy Education requires active inquiry and critical thinking about the messages we receive and create.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Media Literacy Education expands the concept of literacy (i.e., reading and writing) to include all forms of media. <\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Media Literacy Education builds and reinforces skills for learners of all ages. Like print literacy, those skills necessitate integrated, interactive, and repeated practice.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Media Literacy Education develops informed, reflective and engaged participants essential for a democratic society. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let me share some resources that are helpful for teaching media literacy, especially as it involves our American political process.<\/p>\n

    General information on media literacy:<\/span><\/p>\n