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Media literacy is the ability to analyze and evaluate different types of media and the messages they are sending. In today's world, the media is a part of our everyday lives. This means that many people lack the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to understand and interpret the information they receive, and some consumers are unaware of how media sources affect their opinions and decisions. One may strengthen their ability to work out the meaning by reviewing media literacy definitions, terminology, and real-world examples.

It encourages people to ask questions about what they watch, hear, and read. Media literacy education provides tools to help people analyze messages, offers opportunities for learners to broaden their experience of media, and helps them develop creative skills in making their own message

What is the importance of media literacy?
The media sources an average person consumes affects their opinions, behavior, and relationships. Media literacy is important because it will protect the consumer from manipulation and allow them to make conscious and educated decisions about what they value and trust and not just dictate what they've seen around the web.

What is media literacy in 21st century skills?
21st Century Learners are surrounded by media of all forms. Media literacy is necessary to function as a smart consumer of information. Employers seek creative and critical thinkers who can recognize varied points of view, analyze motive, breakdown meanings, evaluate the significance and success of a product, and, to make informed decisions.

Media literacy is defined by the Trent Think Tank on Media Literacy as “the ability to decode, analyze, evaluate, and produce communication in a variety of forms.”

According to the Information Competence Project at California Polytechnic State University, a person who is media literate:

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has the ability to assess the credibility of information received as well as the credibility of the information source

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has the ability to recognize metaphor and uses of symbols in entertainment, advertising, and political commentary

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has the ability to discern between appeals to emotion and logic, and recognizes covert and overt appeals

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is sensitive to verbal as well as visual arguments

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has the ability to use critical faculties to assess the truth of information gleaned from various sources.

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Media literacy is essential for citizenship.

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The media are powerful social and cultural forces.

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The media are social constructions.

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Audiences are active creators of their own meaning.

media literacy also “refers to analytical, reflective understanding of print and electronic mass media, including film, their aesthetic components, institutional structures, socioeconomic contexts, and an ability to interact with media in preparing audiovisual products and in influencing media decision makers”

media literacy programs within an educational setting, with a particular focus on television content. It has been categorized by three levels based on instruction and study

media literacy would begin as early as possible in a person's life, especially given that initial exposure to media often occurs early in one's life

Media Literacy Interventions
‘Media literacy’ and ‘critical viewing skills’ are terms used to describe interventions that are aimed at teaching children, and sometimes parents how to watch television without being affected by the violent and social issues that television seems to be delivering.

A 2004 evaluative study of a media intervention program found that classroom-based lessons based on the portrayal of violence had positive outcomes. Children receiving the intervention, viewed fewer hours of violent television, and identified less with violent characters. According to the Center for Media Literacy, a growing number of parents and educators are seeking to make such intervention programs more regular features of public-school curricula. But more evaluation studies are needed to ascertain their long-term impact and effectiveness.

It's believed that media literacy has become an important skill for young people to develop in this evolving media world in which they live.

To what extent is media literacy a required part of school curricula throughout the nation?

Is media literacy education in schools particularly critical for those at-risk children whose parents are either unaware of the benefits and harms of media consumption or choose not to become involved in monitoring their children's media use?

At what age should children begin to be taught media literacy?

Is it critical for such education to begin early in a child's development?

What roles do the Department of Education and other government, or private organizations play in this area?

By acting to address these key questions, the United States as well as nations around the world may undertake an important approach to create educational systems to promote media literacy.

Media Literacy as a Cognitive Skill
media literacy as an important aspect of children's cognitive development as media consumers.

Specifically, it helps kids:


 * Learn to think critically. As kids evaluate media, they decide whether the messages make sense, why certain information was included, what wasn't included, and what the key ideas are. They learn to use examples to support their opinions. Then they can make up their own minds about the information based on knowledge they already have.
 * Become a smart consumer of products and information. Media literacy helps kids learn how to determine whether something is credible. It also helps them determine the "persuasive intent" of advertising and resist the techniques marketers use to sell products.
 * Recognize point of view.  Identifying an author's point of view helps kids appreciate different perspectives. It also helps put information in the context of what they already know or think they know.
 * Create media responsibly. Recognizing your own point of view, saying what you want to say how you want to say it, and understanding that your messages have an impact is key to effective communication.
 * Identify the role of media in our culture. From celebrity gossip to magazine covers to memes, the media is telling us something, shaping our understanding of the world, and even compelling us to act or think in certain ways.
 * Understand the author's goal. What does the author want you to take away from a piece of media? Is it purely informative, is it trying to change your mind, or is it introducing you to new ideas you've never heard of? When kids understand what type of influence something has, they can make informed choices.


 * When teaching your kids media literacy, it's not so important for parents to tell kids whether something is "right." The process is more of an exchange of ideas. In fact, you'll probably end up learning as much from your kids as they learn from you.
 * Media literacy includes asking specific questions and backing up your opinions with examples.
 * Following media-literacy steps allows you to learn for yourself what a piece of media is, why it was made, and what you want to think about it. Teaching kids' media literacy as a sit-down lesson is not very effective; it's better incorporated into everyday activities.

For example:

With little kids, you can discuss things they're familiar with but may not pay much attention to. Examples include cereal commercials, food wrappers, and toy packages.

With older kids, you can talk through media they enjoy and interact with. These include such things as YouTube videos, viral memes from the internet, and ads for video games.

As kids become more aware of and exposed to news and current events, you can apply media-literacy steps to radio, TV, and online information.

Here are the key questions to ask when teaching kids media literacy:

Who created this?

Why did they make it?

Who is the message for?

What techniques are being used to make this message credible or believable?

What details were left out, and why?

How did the message make you feel?