The Importance of Media Literacy PDF

The Importance of Media Literacy Time to Prepare! This presentation will prompt you to engage in some written activities. Ensure you have opened your English exercise book to a fresh page and have a pen ready. What Is Media Literacy? Developing media literacy means forming the ability to critical...

The Importance of Media Literacy Time to Prepare! This presentation will prompt you to engage in some written activities. Ensure you have opened your English exercise book to a fresh page and have a pen ready. What Is Media Literacy? Developing media literacy means forming the ability to critically analyse and understand the multiple perspectives/arguments presented through various media channels that we come across in our daily lives. It also includes recognising how people can use their platforms to influence others to accept their opinion. Media texts include news articles, opinion pieces, online commentary, television advertisements, memes, speeches or even podcasts. What Is Media Literacy? In order to understand a media text, it is important to be able to identify persuasive techniques, biases and the intended message being conveyed. All texts are susceptible to bias; this is due to the fact that all authors have their own agendas and aims. Therefore, it is vital to develop the skills to critically analyse media in order to draw your own conclusions. Understanding Bias Bias is a tendency to favour one side of an issue while ignoring other perspectives. It means thinking that something is entirely good or entirely bad, regardless of the actual facts. Prejudice is a preconceived opinion formed without considering all the facts. Both bias and prejudice can lead to unfair judgements and discriminatory behaviour. Types of Bias Selection Presenting only certain facts. Omission Leaving out important information. Sensationalism Exaggerating facts for attention. Clickbait Misleading headlines to attract clicks. Recognising Bias When trying to recognise bias in the media, it is important to consider the following four questions: 1. Who created the message? 2. What is the purpose? 3. What techniques are used to attract attention? 4. What lifestyles, values and points of view are represented? Analysing a News Article: Activity Instructions: 1. Select a recent news article. 2. Identify any potential biases. (Use the questions from the previous slide to assist you.) 3. Discuss how the article could be presenting information selectively. Ownership and Influence When analysing media, it is important to understand how media ownership affects content. Important questions to consider are: 1. Who owns this media outlet? 2. What are their interests? 3. How might their ownership influence the content? Research Media Ownership: Activity Instructions: 1. Choose a media outlet and research its ownership. 2. Investigate the owners’ interests and how they might influence their content. 3. Present your findings to the class. The Role of Persuasive Techniques Persuasive techniques play a crucial role in how media messages are constructed and delivered. Common techniques include: Emotional appeals, which aim to evoke strong feelings to influence an audience response; Statistics and data, which provide seemingly objective evidence to support a claim; and Expert opinions, lending credibility to an argument. Understanding how media utilises these techniques is essential to helping you understand how people can be persuaded. It also allows you to recognise potential manipulation tactics. By having an awareness of these methods, we can critically evaluate the messages we encounter and make more informed decisions.  Identifying Persuasive Techniques Activity Instructions: 1. Watch a commercial or political speech. 2. Identify the persuasive techniques used. 3. Discuss how these techniques affect the audience’s perception. 4. Compare your findings with another student in your class. Note: The following slide includes a list of some common persuasive techniques that you may find in the media piece you are analysing.  Persuasive Techniques Emotional Appeals Evoking strong feelings like fear, happiness or (Pathos) sympathy to influence the audience. Logical Appeals (Logos) Using reasoning and evidence such as facts, statistics and logical arguments. Ethical Appeals (Ethos) Establishing the credibility of the speaker or source. Repetition Repeating words or phrases for emphasis to ensure the message sticks with the audience. Bandwagon Suggesting that because everyone else is doing something, you should too.  Persuasive Techniques Testimonials Using celebrity endorsements or satisfied customer reviews to build credibility. Hyperbole Using exaggerated statements to emphasise a point or evoke strong feelings. Loaded Language Using works with strong emotional implications to influence an audience’s perception. Analogies and Making comparisons to explain complex ideas. Metaphors Reflection Questions After reading through this content, reflect on your knowledge by answering the following questions in your exercise book. 1. Explain how bias affects your understanding of the news. 2. Explain why is it important to recognise different forms of bias. 3. Identify ways you can become a more critical consumer of media.  Conclusion Key points to remember: Media literacy is crucial for informed citizenship. Recognising bias helps in understanding the full picture. Critical thinking enables responsible media consumption. Thank You for Your Participation and Attention