Media Literacy and You

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Media Literacy and You a b r i e f g u i d e
for p a r e n t s
Powerpoint by Kate Bagby, 2005
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Facts about kids and TV from the Center for Media
Education.
The average American child watches 2-3 hours
daily.
Preschool kids average 3-4 hours daily.
Television programs that include prosocial
interactions and nonsterotypic portrayals can
lead to cooperation, reduction in prejudice,
reduction in traditional sex-role attitudes and
good citizenship.
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Facts about kids and TV from the Center for Media
Education.
Parents are present only 25 of the time that
preschoolers watch TV.
Until age 9 or 10 children lack essential skills
or information necessary to understand adult
programs.
Prime Time TV 5 violent acts per hour. Saturday
morning TV 20-25 violent acts per hour.
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Facts about kids and TV from the Center for Media
Education.
Children who watch a lot of aggressive
programs tend to use aggression to resolve
conflict.
Most children under 6 do not understand
that advertisers are trying to sell them a
product.
5 hours of programs 1 hour of commercial
advertisements.
5 to 1
The more TV children watch the more they are
likely to believe commercial claims.
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What are Critical Viewing Skills and Media
Literacy?
The written, spoken and word defined the
critical areas of literacy in the past. Today,
technology provides us with additional resources
in the form of electronic images and messages
that we read or interpret and
evaluate. This new The Information Age
requires that we be critical viewers of programs
and commercials. We must learn to recognize and
defuse the effects of commercials and media
violence. When we intentionally do this
by questioning what we see and hear, we are on
the road to media literacy.
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The Four Literacy Skills Required for
the Information Age
Print Reading, writing Language Speaking and
listening Computer Using software, Using
technology to create and send messages MediaCri
tical viewing Image and video production
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Four Points to Remember as you watch TV
1 - People create television programs and their
messages to achieve specific results. 2
- Different people and age groups interpret
programs and messages differently. 3 -
TV violence takes many forms. 4 - TV programs
have an underlying economic purpose.
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1 - People create television programs and their
Messages to achieve specific results.
Hmm, what about the number of calories per
serving?
All TV programs and their messages are
deliberately put together piece-by-piece to get
the desired final effect. Putting together a
program is like building a house there are
numerous choices to make a every step. Each
decision determines what is included, what is
left out and what the overall house will look
like. When complete, the house will send clear
messages about the kinds of people who built
it.
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1 - People create television programs and their
messages to achieve specific results.

• Activities
• Discuss TVs Point Of View
• Keep telling children that TV is pretend.
• Pay attention to camera angles, music
• and special effects in a TV show.
• Ask how did they make this program.
• Have children make their own TV show.

Commercials and other programs are created to
appeal to a large audience by showing a wide
range of fantasies and emotion, from fear and
sadness to adventure and amusement. Help children
understand that commercials and TV programs
usually pretend--not real. Beware of technical
elements, such as music, lighting, camera angles
and stunts, that can persuade viewers to feel a
certain way. Explain that even if a program seems
real, the events have been edited and altered to
be more appealing to YOU.
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2 Different people and age groups interpret
programs and messages differently.
Hey, this isnt cool, what do you think?
Its common to assume that all people watching a
certain show will interpret or read its
messages similarly or get the same message from
the show. In reality, people interpret the show
within the framework of the own identity,
experiences and age. Parents need to be mindful
of this and make sure they direct the meaning of
the programs for their children by talking openly
with them.
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2 Different people and age groups interpret
programs and messages differently.
Hey, this it totally unreal. Its TOTALLY fake..

• Activities
• Talk back to your TV, etc. in
• non-threatening ways.
• Discuss how conflicts on TV are frequently
  resolved.
• Ask your children who is being stereotyped in a
  program.
• Relate TV to real life situations.
• Use the TV as a tool for promoting leaning and
  inspiring creativity and education.

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3 - TV violence takes many forms.
How do you think the other character feels??
Violence may be portrayed as realistic, funny or
even thrilling. Discuss realism, humor, harm,
danger and pain with children as you watch
cartoons, and other programs. Although slapstick
humor can seem funny to some, othersmight find it
violent. Sensitize your children to TV violence
by discussing the feelings of the victim. Ask
your children if violence is ever funny, as in
cartoons, and point out that real life doesnt
work that way.
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3 - TV violence takes many forms.
Certainly, not what they did.

• Activities
• Re-sensitize your children
• to TV violence by asking how
• the victim might feel?
• Ask your children if violence is ever funny, such
  as in cartoons.
• Help children interpret what they see.
• Pay attention to what your preschooler sees you
  or another adult watching.

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4 - TV programs have an underlying economic
purpose.
If I eat Cheerios, will I be fearless and strong?
You need to get Media Literate.
Most television is supported by paid advertising.
Explain to children that advertisers want TV
viewers to buy products. Ask children why they
think certain commercial air during specific
programs. Discuss how commercials often make
products appear more exciting than they are in
reality.
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4 - TV programs have an underlying economic
purpose.

• Activities
• Ask young children why they think certain
  commercials are aired on certain programs. For
  example, toys ads during cartoons.
• Try to predict the kinds of commercials that will
  appear
• in a selected show.
• 3. When your children see their favorite sports
  hero telling them to try this food, or shoe, or
  other product, ask them if they think the star
  gets paid to say those things.

TV commercials are designed to get you to spend
money their way.
Now that you mention it, what your saying makes
sense.
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Spread the Word and get MEDIA LITERATE!
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MORE INFORMATION ON MEDIA LITERACY Directory of
Media Literact Related Sites and Studies
http//www.pbs.org/teachersource/media_lit/relate
d_study.shtmMedia Literacy Clearing House --
http//www.med.sc.edu1081/The Center for Media
Literacy --http//www.medialit.orgMedia
Literacy Online Project -- http//interact.uorego
n.edu/MediaLit/HomePageNew Mexico Media Literacy
Project --http//www.nmmlp.org/http//www.nmmlp.o
rg/ Alliance for a Media Literate America
(AMLA)  http//www.AMLAinfo.org  Links to Media
Literacy Organizations http//ciconline.org/Enrich
ment/MediaLinks/default.htm
REFERENCES X-ENTERTAINMENT http//x-entertainment
.com/downloads/ Taking Charge of Your
TV http//www.lesley.edu/faculty/mgilman/webpagesl
esley/video/resources/PE_ML_TC_ParentGuide.pdf
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REFERENCES X-ENTERTAINMENT http//x-entertainment
.com/downloads/ Taking Charge of Your
TV http//www.lesley.edu/faculty/mgilman/webpagesl
esley/video/resources/PE_ML_TC_ParentGuide.pdf Lin
ks to Media Literacy Organizations http//ciconli
ne.org/Enrichment/MediaLinks/default.htm