Week 2-Media Literacy-Discussion Board 2

My 3 basic rules for my students are simple: no lying, no cheating, no stealing. As I tell them, if you follow these 3 rules you will probably be following all other rules known to man, or woman.

While I have never played drums for the Rolling Stones, I am pictured with them at the 2006 SuperBowl. While I have never had the Beatles as close friends, I appear on three album covers with them. While I have never met any president, I stand with the 5 living presidents in the Oval Office at the White House. Forest Gump is a great example of how you don’t have to be anywhere to do anything to anyone at any time. There is no longer who, what, where, when, why and how. Only the how exists in everything as in, “How did they do that?” Is it cheating? Is it Lying? Is it stealing?

Media has changed the way we do everything. “Advertising: It's Everywhere. No, it's not your imagination. The amount of advertising and marketing North Americans are exposed to daily has exploded over the past decade; studies show, that on average we see 3,000 ads per day. At the gas pumps, in the movie theatre, in a washroom stall, during sporting events—advertising is impossible to avoid.” (Media Awareness Network, 2005)

“The new media environment is rich with potential for excellence. But it is equally open to error, honest or otherwise, and persuasion morphs into manipulation more readily than ever.” (Gillmor, 2009)

“Despite the manner of consumption, it seems that visual information is no different than print in the matter of literacy. It is a requirement that everyone be exposed to education so they can learn to not only read, but to understand different styles of writing, and interpret the personal biases, misinformation, propaganda, or other forms of attempted manipulation that can exist in print. Why should visual and electronic information be different? Without an adequate understanding of the content being consumed, masses have been swallowed themselves into a spectacle focusing on idealized wealth, youth, and sex that do not exist in reality the same way they do on the screen.” (Montifort, 2009)

So what is my point? Trust no one. It is all a conspiracy. The end is coming. Technology is evil. Maybe all of these and may none of these or maybe take each with a grain of salt.

No, we have to educate today’s students to be media literate, not just book literate. If our students cannot distinguish between fact and fiction, how can they live in the real world? Media literacy is no small objective. With information piling up 24/7 and really no one to edit it, who is the final judge of truth or consequences? Who is to say what is fact, part truth, a little white lie, or a complete fabrication?

Beatles. (1964). Beatles for sale. [Image]. Retrieved from private collection.

CBS Studios. (2009). Barack Obama joins former presidents for historic lunch. [Frame]. Retrieved January 7, 2009, from http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/01/69451

Gillmor, D., (2009). New Media Literacy: Core Principles, Best Practices, Strategy And Ethics For The Independent Web Publisher - Part 1. Retrieved December 2, 2009, from http://www.masternewmedia.org/new-media-literacy-core-principles-best-practices-strategy-and-ethics-Part-1/

Media Awareness Network. (2009). Advertising: it’s everywhere. Retrieved June 27, 2005, from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/marketing/advertising_everywhere.cfm?RenderForPrint=1

Montifort, D., (2009). The Importance of Media Literacy. Retrieved Decemeber 2, 2009, from http://www.ifc.com/makemediamatter