CML C*O*N*N*E*C*T #1: May 2000

Center for Media Literacy: Empowerment Through Education

CML C*O*N*N*E*C*T #1: May 2000
Your online connection to resources, news and ideas for media education.
A periodic e-letter published by the CENTER FOR MEDIA LITERACY.

Note: All URLS mentioned were current at the time of original publication.

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INDEX TO THIS EDITION:

CENTERpieces: CML receives $50,000 gift for website; staff added
Download This: Elian Photos as Media Literacy Case Study
Around the Media World:
Recommended Resources
New in the Reading Room
Calendar: NMEC 2001, CML's Summer Seminar Series
Talkback
Subscribe / Unsubscribe

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CENTERpieces:
CML RECEIVES $50,000 WEB DEVELOPMENT DONATION; SERVICES, STAFF EXPAND

We're pleased to announce that the Center has received a $50,000 contribution from the NowCom Corporation (a LA area internet provider) to completely redesign the architecture of the CML website. This will include installing shopping cart technology and other software to allow us to offer additional services, such as teachers posting comments about resources, organizing discussion groups about new titles, etc.

To take advantage of this gift, we have reorganized our staffing to bring on a new full-time staff member, Kevin Segall, to head up the redesign of the site and integrate it with other CML programs. Kevin, a graduate of Brown University in modern culture and media, is also a mail order and web entrepreneur. We are DELIGHTED to welcome him to the staff! In case you haven't noticed, he's already put up a temporary new home page at http://www.medialit.org/

The expansion of our former e-mail bulletin into this E-letter is another example of our new directions. We're creating different "departments" plus providing links to new features on our website such as a regular media literacy column by journalist Bill Walsh who also teaches at Billerica High School in Billerica, Massachusetts (#5 below). We have a new partnership with Toronto's Association for Media Literacy to cross-post their very excellent book and curriculum resource reviews. And note that we've also added a TALKBACK section at the end so you can e-mail us directly with questions and ideas for future web-features. Lots more to come!
DownLoad This
ELIAN PHOTOS PROVIDE CLASSIC MEDIA LITERACY CASE STUDY

Although the media circus around 6-year old Elian Gonzalez seems to be winding down, the events of Saturday morning April 22 will continue to be a classic media literacy "case study" for years to come. Almost as soon as the story broke, teachers on the national Media Literacy List-Serv started offering analysis and ideas about how to process the media coverage. Some starters:
- Examine the language used by different media: was it a "raid" or a "rescue?" was Elian "seized" or "liberated?" Was the Miami family "caretakers" or "kidnappers?" How do words convey point-of-view?
- How were the two pictures used? Equal proportion? One bigger than the other? Who took each one? How were they released to the public?
- Interpretation - do the pictures tell the whole story? What's left out? "This is the stuff media literacy lessons are made of," commented Canadian Chris Worsnop.
There are two ways to follow-up this event. First, the educational division of the New York Times has developed a comprehensive lesson plan for exploring the many issues around the Elian photos and media coverage: "Every Picture Tells a Story" plus the pictures themselves. You can download it free at: http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/000428friday.html

Secondly, if you're not already on the list-serv, join NOW so you'll be in the loop when the next media literacy teachable moment occurs. (And rest assured, another one will be along any day now!) It only takes a minute to join and you can unsubscribe at any time. Details at: http://www.medialit.org/listserv.htm
Around the Media World
A. HOLLYWOOD REVISES GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING

Parent viewers often question whether "Hollywood" has any guidelines for the programs it creates - especially for children. Recently, several organizations in Los Angeles, spearheaded by the non-profit Mediascope, convened writers, educators and child development researchers for a Children's Media Summit. The result was a 16-point advisory document "Special Considerations for Creators of Children's Media." It urges writers to craft responsible story lines and covers issues related to character and values, conflict and violence and diversity and stereotypes. Use this excellent checklist as a basis to evaluate programming your children want to watch. Check it out at: http://www.mediascope.org/pubs/scccm.htm

B. OPRAH'S NEW MAGAZINE BRINGS TV TO LIFE

Have you seen the premiere issue of the new "O" (for Oprah!) magazine - now on newsstands? Interesting to see how the editors have created a PRINT version of her popular TV show. It includes first-person stories and a thoughtful interview with Camille Cosby on surviving the murder of their son. To support her famous reading program, there's a special page (on heavy paper) of colorful bookmarks, perforated and punched, ready to assemble with a pretty ribbon. Another page is a set of four portable "affirmation" cards to tuck in your purse. Some pages are nearly blank - for readers to write down reflections on important questions and plans for the future. Best of all, there's no dieting articles (she promised!) and no screaming headlines on the cover. Lots of upscale advertising, however, but then somebody has to pay for those bookmarks.

C. WATCH & TAPE

May is sweeps month! That means that networks are competing for your eyeballs with movies and specials galore. Check out your local listings or http://www.tvguide.com/ to see what you might want to tape for future viewing at home or in the classroom.
Recommended Resources:
A. HELP EVEN LITTLE KIDS TO BECOME CRITICAL TV VIEWERS!

Our Resource of the Month is SNAPS: PhotoCards for Media Literacy -- a great new elementary resource - with a new lower price!

CML is pleased to introduce a remarkable new curriculum resource developed and tested by one of the top media literacy educators in the US -- Dr. Renee Hobbs. SNAPS consists of 30 glossy photos - "snapshots" of a variety of stimulating TV images, reproduced in color on heavy card stock. Teachers from preschool to grade 6 can use SNAPS PhotoCards to help children acquire a vocabulary for talking about what they see on television, to promote critical analysis and stimulate writing, problem-solving and speaking activities. It's never too early to talk with children about their understanding of what they see on TV and the role of television in our daily lives. Save $20 off the introductory price - now only $79.95. For complete ordering details click on the SNAPS photo at http://www.medialit.org/Catalog/catalog.htm

B. CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCE REVIEWS

From Mediacy, the newsletter published by the Association for Media Literacy (AML) in Ontario, Canada, check out the following resource reviews written by practicing teachers and folks who have long been leaders in media literacy for North America.
New in the Reading Room
MEDIAWATCH: The Best of Bill Walsh

For the past several years, high school English teacher Bill Walsh has been writing a MEDIAWATCH column weekly for his local newspaper, the Billerica (MA) Minuteman. With wit, humor and much insight, he chronicles the challenges of teaching kids about media and reflects on many of the issues and trends the rest of us can only stammer about. He deserves a wider audience. So we're pleased to add "The Best of Bill Walsh" to the Reading Room section of the CML website. We're starting with a small collection of columns from the past and will add new ones each month. Enjoy! http://www.medialit.org/ReadingRoom/Walsh/walsh.html
Calendar
A. ANNOUNCING: THE NEXT NATIONAL MEDIA EDUCATION CONFERENCE will be June 23 - 26, 2001, at the Doubletree Hotel, Austin, Texas.

Hold the date and plan your budget for the next National Media Education Conference in the USA. Like its counterparts in Colorado Springs (1998) and St. Paul (1999) the conference is being organized by the Partnership for Media Education, a collaboration of organizations and individuals representing the major leadership of media literacy in the USA. The CML is a founding member of the Partnership and CML President Elizabeth Thoman serves on its Board of Directors. Planning for the conference is just now getting underway but put the date on your calendar and get it into your 2001 budget. You won't want to miss it!

B. CML's SUMMER SEMINAR SERIES

If you live in Southern California or are planning a trip to the Southland this summer, you'll want to consider attending our one-day seminars in June and August and/or our 2-day July conference on gender issues in media:
All seminars are sponsored by CML's Felton Media Literacy Scholars Program and are open to teachers, parents and anyone eager to explore today's media culture. Attend one or attend them all! For complete details, cost, and registration instructions, go to: http://www.medialit.org/mlsemsslist.htm#integrating
Talkback
Do you have any questions about the media literacy field or comments to share about your own experiences? Feel free to e-mail us at cml@medialit.org
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The CENTER FOR MEDIA LITERACY is a non-profit organization established to promote critical thinking about the media and to provide leadership, training and resources for media education in schools, religious and community organizations. In the global media culture of the 21st century, we believe in "empowerment through education" for children, young people and adults. We rely on tax-deductible grants and donations to sustain and expand our work. Thank you for your support.