Violence in the Media

A topic often discussed in media literacy is violence in the media.
Here are some facts provided by the National Institute on Media and the Family:

• By the time a child is eighteen years old, he or she will witness on television (with average viewing time) 200,000 acts of violence including 40,000 murders (Huston, et al, 1992).

• Children, ages 8 to 18, spend more time (44.5 hours per week- 61/2 hours daily) in front of computer, television, and game screens than any other activity in their lives except sleeping (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2005).

• Since the 1950s, more than 1,000 studies have been done on the effects of violence in television and movies. The majority of these studies conclude that: children who watch significant amounts of television and movie violence are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior, attitudes and values (Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 1999).

• Children are affected at any age, but young children are most vulnerable to the effects of media violence (Bushman, 2001). Young children
  • are more easily impressionable.
  • have a harder time distinguishing between fantasy and reality.
  • cannot easily discern motives for violence.
  • learn by observing and imitating.
  
  
• Violence (homicide, suicide, and trauma) is a leading cause of death for children, adolescents and young adults, more prevalent than disease, cancer or congenital disorders (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001).

The Media Channel is a media group that addresses violence in the media, as well as other media literacy issues.

"Around the world, coalitions continue to express concern about the frequency and degree of violence in the mass media, especially in children's media. But while some scholars see real danger in violent media messages, others are concerned that focusing attention on media violence obscures more important political, social and economic issues.

How can we moderate violence in entertainment media without infringing on freedom of expression? How can reporters cover crime stories without being accused of "body-bag journalism"? And if popular culture is so "toxic," and we're so dissatisfied with media offerings, why is the TV on in the average American home for over 7 hours a day in the average American home? Why did we spend $6.88 billion dollars at the box office in 1998? Do we need to eliminate violence in media because we can't control our own lust for savagery?"

Here's a good site that looks at what experts have to say about the topic.

New Mexico Media Literacy Project

We have a local media literacy jewel in Albuquerque. The New Mexico Media Literacy Project operates out of Academy High School. But don't let the location fool you, the Project is mostly independent from the school. The staff at the Project are experienced media literacy activists. Many have traveled the country doing literacy events. Most of the funding for the Project comes from the State Health Department. So most of the topics covered are things like liquor and tobacco advertising, all very youth based.

"The New Mexico Media Literacy Project, founded in 1993, is one of the largest and most successful media literacy organizations in the United States.

Our mission is to cultivate critical thinking and activism in our media culture to build healthy and just communities.

NMMLP delivers dynamic multimedia presentations at conferences, workshops and classrooms across the country. Our media literacy curricula and action guides, including DVD-ROMs, CD-ROMs and videos, are used in countless classrooms and communities in all 50 states and abroad. NMMLP’s Catalyst Institute and other training programs have empowered thousands of people to be advocates and activists for a media literate society."

What the New Mexico Media Literacy Project does:

	Inspiring, educational media literacy presentations for youth and adults.
	A variety of training opportunities, including the acclaimed Catalyst Institute.
	Innovative media literacy curricula delivered on CD-ROMs and DVDs.
	Collaborative projects on media and health.
	The Bad Ad Contest for students and youth.

Here are some of the BASIC CONCEPTS of media literacy the Project suggests:

Media construct our culture
Media messages affect our thoughts and actions
Media effects are subtle
Media effects are complex
Media use "the language of persuasion"
Media construct fantasy worlds
No one tells the whole story
Media messages contain "texts" and "subtexts"
Individuals construct their own meanings from media
Media convey ideological and value messages
The human brain processes images differently than words
Media are most powerful when they operate on an emotional level
Media messages can be manipulated to enhance emotional impact
Media messages reflect the values and viewpoints of media makers
Media messages can be decoded
We all create media
Our media system reflects the power dynamics in our society
We can reform our media system
Media literate youth and adults are media activists

budding journalists

It has been suggested that C&J should require print journalism majors to take courses such as photography, Web publishing, desktop publishing, or introduction to broadcast instead of some of the courses now required on the communication side, such as media theory and visual communication. Then journalism students would be better trained for multimedia journalism demands. But this isn't such a simple solution.
Its important to remember UNM is a university and not a trade school. Although it is vital for us to learn our journalism trade through practice, it is also essential for us to have a firm grounding of media theory -especially in these rapidly changing times. Without knowledge of journalism's history, we can not carve a new future for journalism. I think UNM has done its best to keep up with new technology and news demands. I also believe UNM will continue to work with local news organizations to keep their graduates current.
Experience in the field is very valuable to college students. I realize not all students are able to obtain internships while in school, and this puts more pressure on classes to provide hands-on training. I've been taking a lot of Service Learning Classes, which provide specific services to the community while teaching students how to work in their field. I wonder if there is not some way to learn journalism while serving a community in need? I realize I need to know how to design web sites to be applicable for most of my prospective jobs. Although the web design class was full, I have the chance to create a site for the non-profit organization I’m interning with. Internships should be required, but should also be accompanied by more sophisticated in-class training.

Citizen journlaists

About "We Media"

"We are at the beginning of a Golden Age of journalism — but it is not journalism as we have known it. Media futurists have predicted that by 2021, "citizens will produce 50 percent of the news peer-to-peer." However, mainstream news media have yet to meaningfully adopt or experiment with these new forms.

Historically, journalists have been charged with informing the democracy. But their future will depend not on only how well they inform but how well they encourage and enable conversations with citizens. That is the challenge."

It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside to hear from my peers how much faith they put into today’s journalism.
I believe journalism's honorable purpose 'to serve society' was lost long before 1996 when Clinton passed the Telecommunications Act. Instead of delivering on its promise of more competition, more diversity, lower prices, more jobs and a booming economy, the act failed to serve the public. We've experienced more media concentration than ever before, higher prices and less diversity. Because journalism is just another industry interested in profit, non-paid ‘volunteer’ staffs are a dream come true.
I think the infiltration of volunteers is better than media run or censored by the government. Business has forced journalists to lose touch with their mass audience, and a few citizen journalists may bring us back around.
As for credibility, I think journalism creates just as much of the world as it reflects. News is incredibly powerful because it dictates what people value, but it is also helpless without people to dictate it. If people choose to continue down the path of citizen journalism, values may change. But considering the nature of people, I don’t really think these volunteers will be plentiful enough or last long enough to make a huge impact either way.
Here's more on We Media.

Print vs. Web

I felt this question posted on our class blog pertained to media literacy:

"Many feel the newspapers and their Web sites each have a role to play and should complement each other. Explain what types of information or use-of-news practices you think are best provided in a print product, and/or what types are best provided by the Web. Why?"

After reading other comments, its apparent the class thinks longer articles should be printed in the newspaper and shorter articles should be posted on-line. Many journalists appreciate the tangibleness of newspapers. Realistically, this view seems more nostalgic than practical to me. Technology is making on-line news easily accessible and available to whole new audiences. Web reporting also allows unlimited space. It makes sense to provide detailed articles on-line as well as shorter, immediate hard news stories. The Web also provides opportunities for pictures, videos, links, related articles, blogs, community boards and other Web 2.0 applications. Printed newspapers will always hold a special place in journalists' hearts (and framed on their office walls), but for the rest of the world, newspapers will be more useful lining bird cages.

radio literacy

Radio is a topic that has many more media literacy activists backing it, like the Prometheus Radio Project, a non-profit organization founded by a small group of radio activists in 1998.
"We believe that a free, diverse, and democratic media is critical to the political and cultural health of our nation, yet we see unprecedented levels of consolidation, homogenization, and restriction in the media landscape. We work toward a future characterized by easy access to media outlets and a broad, exciting selection of cultural and informative media resources."
Learn about low power radio, media ownership, spectrum reform and full power radio.
Localized: (from http://www.nmmlp.org/)

"Andrea Quijada, Director of Educational Programs for NMMLP, joined 50 activists from across the country in Washington, DC February 25-26, 2008 to lobby for Low Power FM radio. The gathering was organized by Philadelphia-based Prometheus Radio Project to support the Low Power Community Radio Act of 2007. This piece of legislation would re-instill power to the FCC to provide licenses for LPFM radio stations in urban areas.
The FCC's power was blocked by an act of Congress in 2000, which requested that a study be done to ensure that LPFM radio stations did not cause interference with full power stations. The $2.2 million study was completed in 2003, revealing that no interference is caused by LPFM stations. Andrea, along with Colleen Gorman and Autumn Chacon from Quote-Unquote Channel 27 in Albuquerque, met with the offices of Congressman Tom Udall, Representative Heather Wilson, Senator Pete Domenici, and Senator Jeff Bingaman."

Spoof Ads

Spoof ads are not only hilarious, they usually hit home too. I thought this one was appropriate, considering the fight against Channel One being mandatory in public schools.

Adbusters is the king of spoof ads. Adbusters is a large grass-roots organization fighting against consumerism and capitalism. The organization was created because of a dispute about air time and old-growth forests in Canada. Now Adbusters sponsors everything from Buy Nothing Day to Turn off your TV Week. Browse their home site, you'll probably learn something new!

Why media literacy?

From the time we wake up, we're being hammed by mass media: morning radio, billboards on the way to work, ads on buses, the logo on your lunch, on your shoes, our underwear -we can't escape.

Here are some disconcerting realities:

98% of U.S. homes have a TV
60% of teenagers have a TV in their room
Children spend more time in front of video screens than in the classroom

“We are, all of us, awash in media. Television. Movies. The Internet. Billboards. Newspapers. Magazines. Radio. Newsletters. Individually and collectively, we spend more time with more media than ever before — an average of 10.5 hours a day, about 25% of that time using two media simultaneously, according to a recent study of “Middletown, USA” by the University of South Carolina.”

Read the entire article A Plea for Media Literacy in our Nation's Schools by David Shaw.

Good-bye Tribune

It's been a long tragedy watching the Tribune play out it's last few months in Albuquerque. Many have added their voice to the general lament of losing a great news source and close friend to our dear city.
Having the editor of the paper as a teacher in my journalism class has been another experience altogether. He seems torn between years of real world experience and the dawning of a new era of journalism. Yet his determination to teach a our class how to do a good job with dignity is inspiring for the future of journalists. A classmate of mine, Stephanie Kitts wrote an article about the Tribune. Here the story from the source in Phill's good-bye column.

PEOPLE NOT PROFIT

My classmates' blogs show the true state of journalism: journalists are not trusted by society, the news industry is failing to provide an essential service to the people, old ways of reporting are on the way out and no one is quite sure what to do next. Oh, and half the class is not perusing careers in journalism, citing reasons like ridiculously low pay and negative job availability after graduation.

This is a time when new journalists (listen up C&J 475) have a chance to rebuild, reinvent and redefine the field of journalism. It’s dawning on my generation that even our professors (especially our professors) have no idea what form journalism will take or what we need to do to prepare. Yeah, we can all see it’ll be technologically based –but we don’t need a degree to figure that out.

News reporting is a service done to maintain freedom and democracy in this country. Media is the only business protected in the Constitution. So, why is it a business at all?

As newspapers drop like flies around the country, it is more obvious every day that current conglomerate, publicly traded, huge media corporations are not providing adequate service to the American people. I know I’ve spent plenty of time whining about these media giants, but I’ve felt powerless against them. They can afford a microphone to send their message when all I have is a whisper. But times are changing and new opportunities are on the horizon.

My suggestion: take news back.

Journalism should be run as other service programs in America are –not for profit. News organizations should be responsible for providing many sides of the same story accurately with as many sources as possible, without advertisers and investors to answer to.

With new technology, the power is being given back to the people. Instead of crying about it, journalists need to utilize it. We work for the people, not for the profit.

Budding journalists seem to be opposed to the idea of citizen journalism –we want news to be reported by professionals, like us (but not actually us, since we’re not going into the field.) Maybe listening to what our audience has to say is the answer, an not only listening, but responding in a meaningful and creative way.

Mainstream media should not feel challenged or threatened by bloggers and citizen journalists, they should consider them resources, teammates working toward the same goal.

Nonprofit journalism is already springing up all over the country. National Public Radio is probably the most successful nonprofit news organization. Some new examples include Voice of San Diego, an online daily, and ProPublica, an investigative journalism group based in New York.

For more information on nonprofit news:
Nonprofit journalism on the rise
Nonprofit News - American Journalism Review

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networking

I’m supposed to write everyday for a successful blog. But I’m also not supposed to care what people think. I can’t write daily. But right now I’m a little shaken. If I could give myself advice four years ago, I would tell myself to keep good connections. Anyone who gives you a good vibe –keep em. Network like a mother. It will do you huge favors later in life. I know I wouldn’t have listened to this advice. In fact, somebody probably told me that same advice, repeatedly. And I didn’t listen. I didn’t want to be one of those little social pigeons who got their position in life by kissing up to people who could cut it themselves. I wanted to make it on my own. But I didn’t know that these successful people already had connections. It’s not the whole “It’s not what you know, but who you know” line of bull. But really, good connections will always be good connections. People are community animals. They share, eat, live and play together. We also work together. If you can accomplish a few of those things while having a hot chai at the local coffee shop –now that’s having your shit together. I never understood what people were talking about until now. And the best part is that I can still make good connections. Even now, when I have one semester left. I realize now it is far more important to be myself and the universe will provide people who can help me, and also people who need my help, support, guidance, smile, whatever. Trust in the world and it will provide for you. Being fake isn’t a requirement for making a network, in fact, it won’t work if you aren't really you.

info-ethics

I was reading the news and came across a term I rather enjoyed: info-ethics. It means the new set of values associated with media. The idea can be compared to another nascent term, bio-ethics. Bio-ethics makes me think of horrible scenarios of biological warfare, just as info-ethics should bring to light the danger of the new media age we live in. Practices like hyper-profiling have already become common in advertising, while media are taking there place as the number one provider of information to the public -more so than government institutions, family or peers. With so many media reaching such a large population, the practices and ethics of media become increasingly important. As does the fact that the big five media giants are growing, as independent media are still shrinking. Kids are receiving only prepackaged, profit-intensive, made-for-TV messages about important issues, like dating, drugs, rebellion and family values. Cultures are being lost in the endless static of mass media monotony. The best solution I see is to reconnect to the community. Encourage kids to think for themselves. Fight the big media corporations with guerrilla media literacy tactics. Stand up for what is right...