the media are all about writing frank baker fbaker1346@aol.com media literacy clearinghouse ...

The media are The media are all about writingall about writing

Frank BakerFrank Bakerfbaker1346@aol.comfbaker1346@aol.com

Media Literacy ClearinghouseMedia Literacy Clearinghousewww.frankwbaker.comwww.frankwbaker.com

November 7, 2007November 7, 2007

Media MessagesMedia Messages

Oft quoted statistic:Oft quoted statistic:

On a typical day, we come in contact On a typical day, we come in contact with an average of 3000 media with an average of 3000 media messagesmessages

M= multitaskingM= multitasking

In a world dominated by digital In a world dominated by digital technology and visual text, it is vital technology and visual text, it is vital to equip all students with the skills to to equip all students with the skills to communicate effectively. They must communicate effectively. They must grow up knowing how to interpret the grow up knowing how to interpret the visual messages with which they are visual messages with which they are constantly bombarded, and as constantly bombarded, and as importantly, they must know how to importantly, they must know how to express themselves in this medium. express themselves in this medium.

Teaching with/about mediaTeaching with/about media

“ “Movies, advertisements, Movies, advertisements, and all other visual media and all other visual media are tools teachers need to are tools teachers need to use and media we must use and media we must master if we are to master if we are to maintain our credibility in maintain our credibility in the coming years.”the coming years.”

Jim Burke, fromJim Burke, fromThe English Teacher’s CompanionThe English Teacher’s Companion

Teaching with/about mediaTeaching with/about media

The problem:The problem:Most teachers have no background on Most teachers have no background on how to teach the “languages of media”how to teach the “languages of media”

The solution:The solution:

Media literacy:Media literacy:critical thinking about mediacritical thinking about media

The media are all about The media are all about writingwriting

Radio (music)Radio (music) Television (shows, commercials)Television (shows, commercials) Film (scripts)Film (scripts) Internet (web pages, podcasts, blogs)Internet (web pages, podcasts, blogs) Photography (visual literacy)Photography (visual literacy) Journalism (TV, newspapers)Journalism (TV, newspapers) Advertising/PRAdvertising/PR

Media Literacy/Media Literacy/Core conceptsCore concepts

All media are constructionsAll media are constructions Media use unique languages with their Media use unique languages with their

own set of rulesown set of rules Media convey values and points-of-viewMedia convey values and points-of-view Different people interpret the same Different people interpret the same

media differentlymedia differently Media are concerned with power/profitMedia are concerned with power/profit

Source: Center for Media LiteracySource: Center for Media Literacy

Critical thinking questionsCritical thinking questions

Who created this message? (authorship)Who created this message? (authorship) For what purpose was it made?For what purpose was it made? For whose eyeballs (audience) is it intended?For whose eyeballs (audience) is it intended? What techniques does it use?What techniques does it use? Who or what might be omitted and why?Who or what might be omitted and why? What does the message mean? What does the message mean?

How do I know?How do I know? Who benefits from the message?Who benefits from the message?

Teaching scriptwritingTeaching scriptwriting

“ “If video is how we are If video is how we are communicating and communicating and persuading in this new persuading in this new century, why aren't more century, why aren't more students students writing screenplayswriting screenplays as part of their schoolwork?“as part of their schoolwork?“

Heidi Hayes JacobsHeidi Hayes Jacobs Ed Consultant Ed Consultant

Script formatScript format

VIDEOVIDEO AUDIOAUDIO

everything that is seeneverything that is seen everything that is heardeverything that is heard(narration, sound effects, (narration, sound effects, music)music)

Language of TV/FilmLanguage of TV/Film

CamerasCameras LightsLights AudioAudio Editing (aka post-production)Editing (aka post-production) Set designSet design CostumesCostumes Actors: non-verbal expressionActors: non-verbal expression

ExamplesExamples

Cell Phone Cell Phone commercialcommercial

ScriptScript

ExamplesExamples

VISA Ad VISA Ad CommercialCommercial

Questions (refer to handout)Questions (refer to handout)

ExamplesExamples

Toy AdvertisingToy AdvertisingCinderella’s Magical Talking VanityCinderella’s Magical Talking Vanity

ExamplesExamples

Public Service Announcement (PSA)Public Service Announcement (PSA)

“Think Before You Post”“Think Before You Post”

Motion PicturesMotion Pictures

Ever seen a screenplay?Ever seen a screenplay?

StoryboardsStoryboards

Adapting a novelAdapting a novel

video

New ResourcesNew Resources

Publisher: NCSS NCTEPublisher: NCSS NCTE