Media Messages and Media Literacy Essentials
- A specific bit of information sent to the public through the media.
- Media messages are created to inform, entertain, or persuade; they aim to be effective and influential.
- Television
- Film
- Internet
- Radio
- Billboards
- Print
- Advertisements
- Political messages
- Public relations messages
- Entertainment messages (songs, movies, TV shows)
- Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Distribution
- Messages are distributed through various media forms.
- Example: a political message can be on television or the Internet.
- Generally intended to persuade people
- Examples: a billboard urging shopping; TV content shaping beliefs
- A single message can be transmitted through different media
- Example: a billboard can carry an advertisement or a political message
- Being media literate helps you recognize what the message is trying to persuade you to do or think, regardless of how it’s transmitted
- This awareness helps you decide how to respond
Summary
- Recognize the purpose of a media message