Media Literacy
Ninti Sanders
The Media and Purpose of Media Literacy
What exactly is media?
Media exists as an outlet for information to be obtained by the world. Every day we observe television shows that are informative or for pure entertainment. We listen to music through streaming online or through the radio in our cars. We read newspapers, magazines, and books. Everyone and everything is connected due to sources such as radio, television, the internet, newspapers, magazines, and other outlets. Essentially, there are three main types: print, broadcast, and the Internet.
The main purpose of media is to keep everyone informed about the world we live in. Therefore, the point of being media literate is having the ability to analyze and evaluate information obtained, as well as develop new forms and provide more information. However, there can be the occurrence of slander and libel.
Actions of slander and libel occur in media every day. For example, the use of propaganda during World War I was an effort to have U.S citizens fight against the Central Powers. (The Allies included Britain, France, Russia, Italy and the United States. These countries fought against the Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.) U.S. involvement in the war was due to controversy over the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, and due to the fact that Germany sunk the Lusitania, a luxury British ship. However, this was difficult for the immigrants from the many countries of the Central Powers and the U.S. therefore sought ways to rally everyone to fight. This included advertisements through posters, newspapers, radio broadcasts, and etc.
All in all, it is up to you to decide how the information should be interpreted. Using media literacy is just an essential part.