Reflection Point 2.6 - Ideas for Media Literacy

Media literacy is a broad topic when one begins to consider all the ways we are influenced by media in the marketplace. I think David’s poster project was a good introduction to a wide-ranging topic. He could continue to strengthen their awareness and understanding of the commercial messages by venturing into other media outlets. Some activity ideas are:

1) View television commercials to interpret the nonverbal and verbal messages in an advertisement. What message or mood does the soundtrack create? What do the visual images of the commercial reveal? How did the commercial make your students feel? Did they want to buy the product, why?
2) Discuss sponsorship and brand placement. How sports figures are paid to wear certain brands and how movies and TV shoes also do brand placement as a way to get more money from companies.
3) Who is in the ad, is it a famous person, a movie star, or sports hero? Why are they acting in the commercial? Why do advertisers choose to have celebrities sell their products?
4) View banner ads on the Internet, spam and companion ads on Web sites. Where do these lead, what are they trying to sell, and are they legitimate?
5) Discuss the models in an ad. How are they stylized? What kind of effort was made to give a model a certain look? Is it realistic for regular people to look like that? Why do advertisers choose professional models for their commercials? Is an ad sexist or does it stereotype?
6) Have students write down the commercial brands they like to eat and investigate the companies they choose to buy food from. Do these companies use false advertising? Do they harm the environment? Is the product healthy? How do food advertisers try to sell their food to kids?

Following discussions about messages in the media, students may want to take action against a company that was unscrupulous or whose product was inadequate. Students could create their own “Consumer Reports” or write to companies, politicians, and generate their own ideas on how to take action. They could do research on different ads then conduct their own awards show with categories such as most persuasive ad on TV, most aggressive Internet ad campaign, etc. There are many ways to help children become more media literate and aware of the messages they receive everyday.