Communication 691E - Sem-Media Literacy

Media literacy is defined and discussed in this graduate seminar, with a focus on children and teens and an inter- and intra-disciplinary, praxis-based approach. We will begin by asking the surprisingly complicated questions of what media literacy is and what its goals entail, attending to its multiple theoretical foundations. Then we will briefly examine the state of media literacy (and the policies to support it) in the U.S. and in various global locations. Next, we will turn our attention to the study of media literacy efforts in a number of topic areas, including news and politics, commercialism, representation, and various aspects of health and wellbeing (body image, alcohol and tobacco use, violence/aggression). Throughout the course, we will carefully examine the methods and approaches that are used to study media literacy, including both qualitative and quantitative research. Students will have the option of engaging in media literacy efforts in the community.

Open to Doctoral & Masters students only. Course Eligibility*: Open to Masters and Doctoral Graduate Students. Questions, contact Professor Scharrer at scharrer@comm.umass.edu.