Media Literacy

Media Literacy

      Media literacy is the ability to critically understand and analyze different constructs of media. It emphasizes the importance of teaching youth to be critically engaged followers of media. Media literacy, or as I like to call it LIT Media is often misunderstood by many. When we say media, most individuals think about social media. Social media is a crucial part, but it is not entirely what the media is about. Over the years I feel that there has been greater awareness raised around the dangers of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat. The youth is often educated on how to critically analyze what is presented to them on social media and made aware of what they should post online. I believe that they should be equally educated on other forms of media literacy. In this blog, I would like to discuss the importance of emphasizing ‘other’ platforms in media literacy such as print media and broadcast media.

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ONTARIO CURRICULUM:

      
      Overall there are four media literacy expectations for students listed in the Ontario curriculum; “demonstrate an understanding of a variety of media texts; identify some media forms and explain how the conventions and techniques associated with they are used to create meaning; create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques; reflect on and identify their strengths, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts” (page 15). All of these expectations are to be used when critiquing print and broadcast media.

     

Important Issue:

          My primary focus is on how to educate students about bias about elections in the newspaper and news channels. Elections are taking place on October 21st, 2019 and the youth should be educated about the pros and cons of every party before they vote. If they are under the voting age, they should still be knowledgeable about what their next leader stands for. In relevancy with the latest hot topic, Trudeau's brown face. What the media presented was pictures of Trudeau covered in brown paint at an Arabian themed party. Shortly following the event, the news presented his apology video, and slowly there was less publicity surrounding the subject. In my opinion, I believe that the news did poorly at providing their viewers with the full context of the story. I found many aspects of this story problematic once I did my own research. My research led to critical questions that I wished the news had answered; why was there an Arabian- Night themed gala? why would an educator paint a brown face? was his apology sincere? was this his first-time racist incident? why was the picture leaked so close to the elections? These are the type of critical questions that the audiences should be engaging in and asking when presented with such stories in the media. We should not be passive consumers of what is presented to us but instead actively research to make our own conclusions.

     

Picture of Prime Minister Trudeau dressed as brown face for an Arabian themed party

How Can We Make a Change?

         How can the youth be better informed about the upcoming elections? I have three tips: be aware of who presents the information about elections in the media, be informed on how to detect fake news, and research about and compare all of the party’s platform on different issues. As learned in class, 5 corporations control the majority of what we watch, read and hear in the media, so we see what they want us to see. Concerning the election, all of the ads about the candidates are paid and biased. Corporations create a business on the distribution of the content and the impact that the content has on the youth is not any of their concern. As for my second tip, there is a picture attached below that will inform the youth on how to detect fake news. Lastly, for my third tip, I have provided links to websites for students to do their own research on the platforms of all candidates. When in doubt check credible sources for facts. With all of this information, create your own opinion about which candidate should be our next Prime Minister. Critically evaluate everything that digital and print media produces, do not let someone else’s bias influence your judgment.

                                         

This image informs consumers of media how to spot fake news.

Resources:

Canada's political news fact-checker:

 http://factscan.ca/

Comparing different parties:

 https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/federal/2019/party-platforms/

Ontario Curriculum (literacy): http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/language18currb.pdf:

Article on Brown Face Trudeau:

https://time.com/5680759/justin-trudeau-brownface-photo/

References:

Anna, Kambhampaty. Justin Trudeau Wore Brownface at 2001 ‘Arabian Night’. Time. October 1^st, 2019. https://time.com/5680759/justin-trudeau-brownface-photo/

                                                             

Canada’s Political Fact-Checker. Facts Can. October 1^st, 2019. http://factscan.ca/

How do the main parties compare on these issues. CIBC. October 1^st, 2019. https://newsintera ctives.cbc.ca/elections/federal/2019/party-platforms/

How to spot fake news. IFLA.  October 1^st, 2019. https://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2006). The Ontario Curriculum Grades 1-8 Language. Toronto: Author