Media Literacy

Definition/Purpose




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MEDIA LITERACY is a phrase that refers to an individual's ability to read, analyze and evaluate the printed, auditory and visual information presented to an audience by a variety of media forms (television, print, radio, computers, etc.) To be MEDIA LITERATE implies that the individual recognizes the rhetorical arguments and techniques being used to persuade an audience to accept a specific political position, buy a specific product, or watch a specific program.

This module is intended to help you gain some of the skills necessary to start your journey to becoming media literate.

Attributes of the Individual who is Media Literate

  1. Has the ability to assess the credibility of information one receives as well as the credibility of the source of the information

  2. Has the ability to recognize metaphor and other uses of symbols in entertainment, advertising, and political commentary.

  3. Has the ability to discern between appeals to emotion and logic, and recognizes covert and overt appeals.

  4. Has sensitivity to verbal as well as visual arguments.

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

  6. Has the ability to assess the credibility of information one receives as well as the credibility of the sources of the information.

  7. Has the ability to recognize metaphor and other uses of symbols in entertainment, advertising, and political commentary.

  8. Has the ability to discern between appeals to emotion and logic, and recognizes covert and overt appeals.

  9. Has sensitivity to verbal as well as visual arguments.

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