What is media literacy?

According to Tilling & Fadel, media literacy is defined as “the medium of delivering messages, the crafting of the message for a particular medium, and the impacts the media message has on an audience” (Tilling & Fadel, 2009, p.66). The general idea here is that individuals get a huge variety of information from a huge variety of sources. In the course interview with Julie Smith (2021), Julie discusses the importance of questioning the message when it comes to media literacy. These messages can come from literally everywhere, which makes it extremely important to question these messages and who the message is coming from, what the message means, where the message is coming from, why this message is being delivered, and how the message is being delivered.  


Why is it important?

We have been told, since we were young kids, to not believe everything we see and hear on the internet. In the course interview (2021), Julie discusses the fact that we have learned, through education, that two plus two equals four. But she said that she found on the internet that somebody had stated and had proof that two plus two equals five. This provides a great example that we should not believe everything we see on the internet. According to Trilling and Fadel (2009), media literacy is important because it allows us to access, analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a variety of forms. It allows us to question the messages that are being delivered to us.  


Why is it dismissed?

There are a few different reasons that media literacy might be dismissed. The first reason being that the media provides such a widespread amount of information, that it can be difficult to take the time to ensure that this information is, in fact, correct and valuable. As well, information overload can occur. When somebody is doing research for example, and they are reading article after article after article, there brain is going to become full of information. They might forget to include their media literacy because all they are focused on is the amount of information they are reading. Finally, another reason that media literacy might be dismissed, is because of individual biases. Individuals have their own values and beliefs, and they might be biased in what they believe. They may not be open to learning new things or information that might contradict what they already believe.


Why should you aim for varied views but the factual consensus in your PLN?

In the course interview with Julie (2021), she discusses the idea that we should aim for varied views and sources in order to diversify our thoughts and opinions. Julie also adds that it can be difficult to do this when our shields and barriers are up. In general, it is important to have a factual consensus in your PLN so that you are providing an honest source of information for your audience, while allowing the space to have conversations. If your personal shield is up, and you are unable to allow for a factual consensus, individual’s might see you as biased and unwilling to learn. Like Julie says, it is important to provide your own varied views, but we have to make sure that we are also providing a factual consensus while doing so.

References:

Miller, J. [MILLER]. (2021, June 6). EDCI 338 – Media literacy with Julie Smith [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57r3-aEnci0

Trilling, B. & Fadel, C. (2012). Digital Literacy Skills. Media Literacy: Chapter 4, p. 66. https://learning-oreilly-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/library/view/21st-century-skills/9780470475386/fade_9780470475386_oeb_c04_r1.html#h1