Media Literacy and Its Use as a Method to Encourage Civic Engagement

Culver, Sherri and Jacobson, Thomas Media Literacy and Its Use as a Method to Encourage Civic Engagement. Revista Comunicar, 2012, vol. XX, n. 39, pp. 73-80. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

Changes in technology have opened up a new kind of participatory citizenry; one in which engaged citizens’ blog, post, tweet, upload, create, and otherwise interact with others online. This paper explores the intersection of media and information literacy with civic participation by examining three specific programs operating in the United States. These projects include «Powerful Voices for Kids», «The Salzburg Academy on Media and Social Change»; and «Cultivating the NetGeneration of Youth as Global Citizens and Media Literate Leaders in a Digital Age», in which educators and students at schools in the USA and Africa meet virtually and physically to explore collaborative methods that use media to build bridges of understanding. Through analysis of each program’s practices and personal interviews with the program director, consistent methods for developing a strong media and information literacy program with a focus on democratic participation are revealed. These include a need for programs to reflect a respect for student interest in popular culture, willingness for program educators to put aside assumptions that students lack an interest in current events, recognition that technology use is a means to an end, not the ultimate goal, and the utilization of a support team for the instructors or educators

Spanish abstract

Los cambios en la tecnología han posibilitado un nuevo tipo de ciudadanía participativa; los ciudadanos utilizan blogs, correos, tweets, principalmente para crear e interactuar con otros. Este artículo explora la intersección de los medios de comunicación y la alfabetización mediática y su relación con la participación ciudadana, mediante el aná- lisis de tres programas específicos que se llevan a cabo en Estados Unidos. Estos proyectos son «Voces para los niños» (Powerful Voices for Kids), «Academia de Salzburgo en Comunicación y Cambio Social» (The Salzburg Academy on Media and Social Change) y «Educando a jóvenes en Red como ciudadanos globales, alfabetizados mediáticamente en la era digital» (Cultivating the NetGeneration of Youth as Global Citizens and Media Literate Leaders in a Digital Age). En ellos educadores y alumnos de escuelas de Estados Unidos y África tienen encuentros virtuales y presenciales para explorar métodos colaborativos, utilizando los medios para construir puentes de entendimiento. A través del análisis de cada programa y las entrevistas personales con algunos de sus directores, se presentan métodos que consiguen un buen desarrollo de proyectos de alfabetización mediática focalizados en la participación democrática, incluyendo, a su vez, la necesidad de crear actividades que reflejen el respeto hacia el interés de los estudiantes en la cultura popular, la voluntad de los educadores para superar los prejuicios sobre su falta de interés en temas de actualidad, el reconocimiento de la tecnología como un medio y no como un fin en sí misma, y la utilización de un equipo de apoyo para el profesorado

Item type:	Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords:	Media literacy, Information literacy, Democracy, Participation, Civic engagement, Social change, Youth media, Alfabetización mediática, Alfabetización informacional, Participación, Democracia, Compromiso cívico, Cambio social,Medios de comunicación juveniles
Subjects:	G. Industry, profession and education. > GG. Curricula aspects. G. Industry, profession and education. > GH. Education. G. Industry, profession and education. > GI. Training. H. Information sources, supports, channels. > HI. Electronic Media.
Depositing user:	Alex Ruiz
Date deposited:	07 Oct 2012
Last modified:	02 Oct 2014 12:23
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/10760/17753

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