Media Literacy Education
In today’s digital age, being media literate is a prerequisite to being democracy ready. Media literacy entails the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication. DemocracyReady NY is working to advance access to media literacy education for all students throughout the state, as part of their right to be prepared for civic participation.
DemocracyReady NY Resources:
Resources from Our members:
-
Center for News Literacy at Stony Brook University School of Journalism
- Ioana Literat's resource page, Associate Professor of Communication, Media and Learning Technologies Design at Teachers College, Columbia University
-
Infographic on Lateral Reading developed by school library media specialist Kelly Wetherbee.
- The Media and Social Change Lab (MASC) at Teachers College, Columbia University
-
Project Look Sharp, the media literacy organization, has over 500 free lessons for integrating critical thinking about media messages into the teaching of core subject area content and standards at all grade levels and subjects as well as free PD materials for integrating media analysis throughout the curriculum.
Activities & Advocacy Opportunities:
The DemocracyReady NY Coalition is pursuing a broad advocacy strategy to advance access to media literacy education for all students throughout the state, building on our policy recommendations.
Coalition Advocacy in 2023:
Building on the success of Civic Learning Week, the Coalition hosted a successful virtual Lobby Day event on March 14, 2023 featuring Chris Sperry (Project Look Sharp), who presented some of the material featured in the Media Literacy CLW event, and Margo Cruz (Legislative Director for Asm. Danny O'Donnell).Some of the media literacy committee's requests, based on recommendations from Developing Digital Citizens, had been incorporated into a new bill, A5318. Combined with other elements from additional stakeholders, this bill was a revision to the Dignity for All Students Act, an important piece of school climate and safety legislation that was initially passed in 2010. Attached to the bill was a proposed $15 million appropriation that would fund professional development for library media specialists, the development and implementation of media literacy standards, and the development and implementation of policies and training related to suicide prevention. The March 14 event included a letter-writing session to legislators.