Media and Information Sources

Media and Information Sources

• Unit 5 addresses media and information sources

Essential Questions

• It addresses how spreading false information affects a person
• It explores why it is important to empower indigenous people with community media

Sources of Media and Information

• Newspapers, magazines, social media, TV programs, and the Internet are the different sources
• Each type delivers information differently
• Information from various sources is evaluated based on reliability, accuracy, value, authority, and timelessness
• Information refers to facts and figures acquired from learning, research, or communication
• Information sources refer to people, groups, and records from which data is gathered
• An informant is someone who provides details about their language, values, beliefs, or culture to a researcher

Library

• A library is a place to find sources of media
• It is built with a collection of books, periodicals, and other resources organized through a classification system
• A librarian is a professional who manages the library
• A librarian also organizes and evaluates books and other resources stored at the library
• Libraries are classified into four groups: academic, public, school, and special
• Academic libraries support the curriculum for universities and other educational institutions
• They serve as research arms for scholarly papers and related works
• Examples of academic libraries: the Rizal Library of Ateneo de Manila University and the Miguel de Benavides Library of the University of Santo Tomas
• Public libraries are supported by taxes and the government
• They are accessible to everyone and are for public interest
• Basic library services are offered for free in public libraries
• The National Library of the Philippines is a public library that no longer requires a library card to serve more Filipinos in pursuit of learning
• School libraries cater to both students and educators
• Teachers can find audio-visual materials suited for a specific grade level and subject area at school libraries
• Students are also provided with books and other resources appropriate for their ages and levels at school libraries
• Teachers may conduct activities in the school library
• Manila Science High School and Arellano High School are schools with libraries for both teachers and students to use

Special Library

• It serves a specific group of people, based on a discipline
• Collections are focused on a specific area of interest
• They are maintained by a certain business organization, professional association, or government agency
• Types of special libraries include corporate, law, medical, music, and theological libraries
• The Cultural Center of the Philippines Library and Archives is a special library, housing a collection of manuscripts, art books, musical compositions, and memorabilia
• The Internet refers to a global system that links computer networks under the same set of communication protocols
• Some scholarly articles that are not available in print are already accessible online
• The Internet is a faster alternative to find specific information than browsing through printed books
• Internet poses a challenge to identifying quality sources

Evaluating Resources

• Authority means identifying the author of the content and knowing the credentials
• Accuracy checks for peer-reviewed of journals
• It also checks for verifying names, dates, figures, and places mentioned
• Objectivity assesses if the author is biased or not
• Currency looks at the date when the material is published
• Coverage knows the scope of the information presented
• Fact-checking confirms the accuracy of information made in a speech, research, news article, or editorial
• Not everything you see online is worth sharing

Indigenous Media and Information

• Lesson 2 discusses gathering indigenous media and information
• Indigenous is synonymous with native and local
• Indigenous knowledge refers to distinctive facts, information, and skills that originate in a community of people sharing the same beliefs, ideas, and cultures
• Indigenous knowledge is passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another
• Examples of how indigenous knowledge plays a major role are folk dances, traditional medicine, and kuwentong bayan or folklore
• Indigenous media refers to the communicative tools and resources of the indigenous peoples, also known as community media
• Oral interaction and face-to-face communication are factors of indigenous media
• Forms of indigenous media include folk or traditional media, gatherings and social organizations, direct observation, records (written, carved, or oral), and oral instruction
• Information sharing is sometimes limited to members of the community
• Indigenous communication refers to the information exchange via local channels
• It is a way of culture preservation and adaptation, tracing back to Philippine history

Historical Context and Modern Equivalents

• News and stories are typically spread through local meetings such as kapihan, balitaktakan, and kuwentong barbero
• It is best to consult an adult to gain news and information in the community
• Umalohokan were town criers of an ancient barangay or a well-organized independent village
• They announce laws ordered by the Datu or chieftain to reach the community
• Kapihan is a session where community members come together to share stories over a cup of coffee
• Balitaktakan is a discussion or debate where members are free to voice out their opinion about a certain topic, exchanging ideas to solve a community problem
• Kuwentong barbero is a Filipino idiom associated with hearsay, originating from local men going to barbershops to listen to the barber's stories

Strengthening the Identity of Indigenous people

• Indigenous media and information strengthen a community's identity
• It is a platform for indigenous peoples to express their own perspectives and penetrate the social and political sphere
• Indigenous journalists and media producers are entrusted to establish their own media, using their language and gaining access to non-indigenous media
• The role of indigenous media and information is to educate and inform community members beyond what popular media offers
• In the Philippines, efforts to media recognition on indigenous peoples are done
• Sensitivity on how they are portrayed must be practiced

Media Language

• Unit 6 centers on media and information languages
• Media language involves the study of codes, conventions, and genre
• Codes are structures and arrangements of signs decoded to produce meaning
• There are three general types of codes: technical, symbolic, and written
• Technical codes use tools or equipment to convey a certain message to media
• Common examples are camera work, editing, lightning, and audio mixing
• Camera angles refer to how the camera is placed and how objects, people, and places are shot

Camera Angles and Perspectives

• Low angles where the camera looks up make the subject look large and create an impression of power
• Normal angles where the camera looks straight makes the subject look and feel equal to the viewer
• High angles where the camera looks down makes the subject appear smaller and create an impression of weakness
• Lighting is the selective use of natural or artificial light to create a certain effect
• Symbolic codes are associations and connotations reflected in physical aspects like objects, colors, or even animals
• Common symbolism is clothing, verbal and non-verbal gestures like facial expression and tone
• Written codes involve buzzwords that may seem pleasant and catchphrases associated with products/services
• Conventions are the rules or norms on how codes are organized and presented to the audience
• Genre refers to any kind or type of media that has a common set of characteristics, styles, and techniques recognized by producers and the audience

Typology of Television Genre Based on Level of Emotionality and Objectivity

• Contests are game shows, quizzes, and sports, involving competition among players
• Actualities include all news, documentary, and reality programming
• Persuasions are low on both dimensions and reflect an intention to persuade, especially by advertising or promoting some form of advocacy or propaganda
• Dramas cover almost all fictional storytelling of a wide range of genres

Frameworks for Analysis

• Media are produced to communicate ideas
• Media language is a binder that glues all elements involved because language is present in any form of communication
• Media texts are any forms of media being examined and scrutinized
• An audience is anyone who receives media
• They people discover implicit and explicit ideas created for consumers
• Analysis is done by questioning to whom the particular text is intended
• Analysis must consider what values are underrepresented or emphasized
• Production is creating different types of media

TAP Questioning Framework

• A way of examining text, audience and production methods
• The framework asks us to consider the medium, genre, codes, conventions, and characters
• Also consider what individuals, industries or institutions created this text
• It asks how the text is marketed, distributed, and what laws and rules govern production
• Questions the target audience for this text
• Also consider what evidence can be provided, and who is not addressed by this text
• Asks how and why does the text appeal to its target audience?