What is Media Litercy?
Be Aware...What is Media Literacy?Media include any form of mass information
or communication such as television,
newspapers, radio, or computers.
Media literacy is the ability to understand,
evaluate, and create media in a variety of
formats. For an informed public, media literacy
is fundamental. It is an essential life skill.
Media envelop us and arrange the
rhythm our lives. They can change how
we think and work.
The public owns the airwaves but 6
conglomerates control most media
content.
81% of children between ages 2 and 7 watch
TV alone and unsupervised. That percent
jumps to 95 for age 7 and up.
Televisions, computers, cell phones, personal
digital assistants, portable digital audio and
video players are tools designed to make life
easier and more fun. They should not replace
relationships with family and friends.
Why Teach Media to Everyone?
The American Academy of Pediatrics
discourages any screen time for for
children younger than 2.
Yet researchers found 40% of 3-month
olds and about 90% of kids aged 2
years or younger regularly watch
television, DVDs, or videos.
The average child entering
kindergarten has seen 5000 hours
of television.
Each year, the average American youth
spends 1,023 hours watching TV and
only 900 hours in school.
The average child leaving
elementary school will have witnessed
8000 murders and more than 100,000
other acts of violence.
By the time a youngster is old
enough to drive, he/she has seen
75,000 ads for alcohol.Literacy?Why Teach Media
Statistics gleaned from
national media literacy
organizations including the
Alliance for a
Media Literate America
of which she is a member
Mind Over Media
Media Education Matters?
The average child sees about 40,000
advertisements a year.
Children between 4 and 12 directly influenced
$330 Billion of adult purchases in 2004.
Within 3 minutes of looking at fashion
magazines, 70% of women feel guilty,
ashamed, and depressed.
The media’s “tough guy” male image
normalizes violence.
90% of kids 12-17 are on the nternet with unlimited, usually unsupervised, access to the world.
Kids spend more than 7 hours a day in front of some kind of screen.
Shouldn’t we give them information to make it time well spent?
To EveryoneMedia Education Matters
