What Media Literacy is NOT

The following is a list of ideas to help explore and understand how media literacy is different from other literacies and what are some of the basic elements of a more comprehensive media education.

• Media 'bashing' is NOT media literacy, however media literacy sometimes involves criticizing the media.
• Merely producing media is NOT media literacy, although media literacy should include media production.
• Just teaching with videos or CDRoms or other mediated content is NOT media literacy; one must also teach about media.
• Simply looking for political agendas, stereotypes or misrepresentations is NOT media literacy; there should also be an exploration of the systems making those representations appear "normal."
• Looking at a media message or a mediated experience from just one perspective is NOT media literacy because media should be examined from multiple positions.
• Media Literacy does NOT mean "don't watch;" it means "watch carefully, think critically."

With thanks to Renee Hobbs, Chris Worsnop, Neil Andersen, Jeff Share and Scott Sullivan.