Media Literacy: Analyzing & Understanding Media Messages - Essay Sample

Introduction

Media literacy refers to the ability to identify varied types of media and understanding the messages that they intend to convey. People take a large volume of information from a wide range of sources, much beyond the traditional or old media. Media comprises video games, memes, text messages, social media, advertising, viral videos, and many more. Feuerstein (2015) claimed that all media have one thing in common: It must have been created by someone, and there must have been a reason for creating it. Therefore, the basis of media literacy constitutes understanding the reason behind the creation of the media as well as creating the media (Feuerstein, 2015). In most cases, people don't know the creator of a media, the reason they were created, and whether they are trustworthy and reliable. This makes it challenging to teach and learn media literacy. History records it that media contents are dynamic and therefore media literacy play a vital in coping up with the changes. Nevertheless, given the recent advancements in technology, media literacy is an essential skill and thus plays a significant role in the digital age. The main focus of this paper is to examine the need for media literacy in society.

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Enhances Critical Thinking

As the society subject's media to evaluation, they come to decide whether there is some sense in the media, the reason why there was the inclusion of some information, and ultimately identifying the key idea (Feuerstein, 2015). The society, therefore, learn to applied examples in different situations to help them support their opinion. This enables them to make their own decisions concerning the information on the basis of the knowledge that they have at their disposal (Livingstone & Helsper, 2006). This, therefore, helps the society to sharpen their critical thinking and hence, come up with the right decisions after a thorough and successful evaluation of a media.

Become Smart Information and Product Consumers

Media literacy equips society with the necessary skills that enable them to determine the credibility of something quickly. It helps the society to know who has created the information, the reason behind its creation as well as the degree of trustworthiness of the information (Baker, 2014). This helps the society to understand what is right and wrong for their consumption. Moreover, media literacy assists the society to establish the "persuasive intent" employed by some companies to commercialize their products. It helps the society to be in a position of resisting some ill techniques that might be used by marketers to sell their products (Livingstone & Helsper, 2006). Furthermore, media literacy equips the society with the accepted practice of handling and consuming media hence fostering ethics in the society.

Self-Expression

By learning how other people relay media to communicate vital information may be very significant on how another person would produce and relay their content. The current market is awash with media of different kinds. Most people become successful in the market space because of their level of their media literacy skills (Baker, 2014). Designers analyze advertisements; doctors watch film and writers read scripts and novels. This, therefore, means that for an individual to get into the media industry and become a successful contributor, then they are compelled to have a thorough study of what has made other people successful. Feuerstein (2015) claims that technology plays a significant role in the expression and hence, the exploitation of media. This hence helps the society to enhance their self-expression.

Conclusion

Media literacy plays a significant role in society. It helps the society to know who has created the information, the reason behind its creation as well as the degree of trustworthiness of the information. This helps the society to know what is right and wrong for their consumption. Furthermore, media literacy boosts critical thinking, become a smart consumer of information as well as enhancing their degree of self-expression.

References

Baker, F.(2014). Media literacy in the K-12 classroom (1st ed., p. 564). New York.

Feuerstein, M. (2015). Media Literacy in Support of Critical Thinking. Journal Of Educational Media, 24(1), 43-54. doi: 10.1080/1358165990240104

Livingstone, S., & Helsper, E. (2006). Does Advertising Literacy Mediate the Effects of Advertising on Children? A Critical Examination of Two Linked Research Literatures in Relation to Obesity and Food Choice. Journal Of Communication, 56(3), 560-584. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2006.00301.x